US 2007/0181525 A1 · Tamper-indicating closure, container, package, and methods of manufacture

Abstract

A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps. Liquid product may readily drain from between the container finish and the closure skirt through the axial channels in the closure thread, through the drain openings at the juncture of the closure flange and band, and through the gaps between the stop bead segments on the container finish. The container finish may also have a support flange with drain channels or slots aligned with the gaps in the bead.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of making a beverage container that comprises the step of:

integrally molding a container that includes a cylindrical finish with an open mouth, at least one external thread, an external circumferential bead on a side of said thread remote from said mouth for cooperating with tamper-indicating means on a closure, and an external circumferential flange spaced from said bead on a side of said bead remote from said thread,
wherein said step of molding said container is such that said bead comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps, and said flange includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements each axially aligned with a corresponding gap in said bead.

A method of making a package that includes:

(a) providing a container having a finish with at least one external thread and an external bead disposed beneath said thread,
said external bead on said finish a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps,
said finish having a cylindrical outer wall surface, said external thread and said external bead segments extending radially outwardly from said surface, said gaps comprising portions of said wall surface,
said finish further including an external support flange beneath said bead and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements on said flange, each of said drain elements being axially aligned with a corresponding gap in said bead, and
(b) providing a closure that includes:
a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing said closure to said external thread on said container finish,
a tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to an edge of said skirt,
a stop element on said band for abutment with said bead on said finish,
a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings extending axially through said stop element or through said band or through both said stop element and said band, and
a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extending axially along said skirt through said internal thread, at least some of said channels being axially aligned with said drain openings.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tamper-indicating closure, container, package, and methods of manufacture

Life of this patent

Tamper-indicating closure, container, package, and methods of manufacture

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22