# US 2013/0153575 A1 · Tamper-evident container closure with flip-top cap > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153575 A1 - Document ID: US20130153575A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/767,684 - Filed: 2013-02-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-02 - Assignees: Berry Plastics Corporation - Inventors: Christopher B. Clodfelter; Carl Clement - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153575A1 ## CPC - B65D 51/18: Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures {(B65D51/247 takes precedence)} - B65D 17/462: {Tearing-strips or -wires} - B65D 47/0857: {made separately from the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage} - B65D 2251/1033: Protuberances and cavities provided on a horizontal flange respectively of the container or base and the closure, and penetrating one into the other, e.g. of the press-button type - B65D 2401/20: Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt - B65D 2401/25: Non-metallic tear-off strips - 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 A closure includes a body adapted to mount on a container having a discharge outlet and a cap configured to move relative to the body from a closed position covering the discharge outlet to an opened position uncovering the discharge outlet. The closure also includes frangible links coupled to the body and cap that break in response to first-time movement of the cap from the closed position to the opened position to alert an observer that the cap has been opened once before. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-35. (canceled) ### Claim 36 A container closure comprising a body adapted to mount onto a container formed to include an outlet opening into an interior region formed in the container, a cap configured to be mounted on the body in a closed position overlying the outlet and separated from the body in an opened position uncovering the outlet, the cap having a rearwardly facing rear portion and an opposite forwardly facing front portion comprising a finger-grip region, a hinge coupled to the rearwardly facing rear portion of the cap and coupling the body to the cap for pivoting movement of the cap about a pivot axis between the open position and the closed position, tamper-evident means coupled to the cap and to the body for breaking in response to movement of the cap relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position to provide a tamper-evident signal visible to an observer that the cap has been moved relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position, the tamper-evident means being on at least one side of the cap between the rear portion and the front portion. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The closure of claim 36, wherein the tamper-evident means is viewable from above the cap. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The closure of claim 36, further comprising at least one radially extending frangible connector configured to have a shape other than an S-shape and arranged to interconnect the body and the cap and extend inwardly in a radial direction toward a vertical central axis of body from the body to the cap and at least one S-shaped frangible strap, each S-shaped frangible strap having an inner portion coupled to the cap, an outer portion coupled to the body, and a serpentine portion arranged to interconnect companion inner and outer portions. ### Claim 39 A tamper-evident closure comprising a body adapted to mount onto a container formed to include an outlet opening into an interior region formed in the container, a cap configured to be mounted on the body in a closed position overlying the outlet and separated from the body in an opened position uncovering the outlet, the cap having a rearwardly facing rear portion and an opposite forwardly facing front portion, a hinge coupled to the rearwardly facing rear portion of the cap and coupling the body to the cap for pivoting movement of the cap about a pivot axis between the open position and the closed position, tamper-evident means coupled to the cap and to the body for sequentially breaking frangible connections in response to the pivoting movement of the cap relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position to provide a tamper-evident signal visible to an observer that the cap has been moved relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The closure of claim 39, wherein the tamper-evident means is on at least one side of the cap between the rear portion and the front portion. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The closure of claim 39, wherein the tamper-evident means is viewable from above the cap. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The closure of claim 39, wherein the tamper-evident means comprises a first frangible connector configured to break in response to movement of the cap away from the closed position, and a second frangible connector configured to break after breakage of the first frangible connector. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The closure of claim 39, wherein the second frangible connector is configured to stretch before breaking. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) The closure of claim 39, wherein the second frangible connector is S-shaped. ### Claim 45 (depends on 36) The closure of claim 36, wherein the body is adapted for snap connection to the container. ### Claim 46 A container closure comprising a body adapted to mount onto a container formed to include an outlet opening into an interior region formed in the container, a cap configured to be mounted on the body in a closed position overlying the outlet and separated from the body in an opened position uncovering the outlet, the cap having a rearwardly facing rear portion and an opposite forwardly facing front portion, a hinge coupled to the rearwardly facing rear portion of the cap and coupling the body to the cap for pivoting movement of the cap about a pivot axis between the open position and the closed position, tamper-evident means for breaking in response to movement of the cap relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position to provide a tamper-evident signal visible to an observer that the cap has been moved relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position, the tamper-evident means comprising at least one radially extending frangible connector arranged to interconnect the body and the cap, the at least one radially extending frangible connector being coupled to the body at a first position and coupled to the cap at a second position radially inward of the first position. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The closure of claim 46 wherein the tamper-evident means comprises sequentially breaking frangible connections in response to the pivoting movement of the cap relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The closure of claim 46 wherein the tamper-evident means is on at least one side of the cap between the rear portion and the front portion. ### Claim 49 A method of providing tamper-evidence comprising the steps of providing a body adapted to mount onto a container formed to include an outlet opening into an interior region formed in the container, providing a cap configured to be mounted on the body in a closed position overlying the outlet and separated from the body in an opened position uncovering the outlet, the cap having a rearwardly facing rear portion and an opposite forwardly facing front portion comprising a finger-grip region, providing a hinge coupled to the rearwardly facing rear portion of the cap and coupling the body to the cap for pivoting movement of the cap about a pivot axis between the open position and the closed position, providing a tamper-evident means coupled to the cap and to the body for breaking in response to movement of the cap relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position to provide a tamper-evident signal visible to an observer that the cap has been moved relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position, the tamper-evident means being on at least one side of the cap between the rear portion and the front portion, and applying a force to the finger grip region sufficient to enable pivoting movement of the cap about the hinge from the closed position to the open position causing breaking of the tamper-evident means during said pivoting movement thereby providing tamper-evidence of the opening of the cap with respect to the body. ### Claim 50 A container closure comprising a body adapted to mount onto a container formed to include an outlet opening into an interior region formed in the container, a cap configured to be mounted on the body in a closed position overlying the outlet and separated from the body in an opened position uncovering the outlet, the cap having a rearwardly facing rear portion and an opposite forwardly facing front portion, a hinge coupled to the rearwardly facing rear portion of the cap and coupling the body to the cap for pivoting movement of the cap about a pivot axis between the open position and the closed position, tamper-evident means coupled to the cap and to the body for breaking in response to pivoting movement of the cap relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position to provide a tamper-evident signal visible to an observer that the cap has been moved relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position, the tamper-evident means including at least one S-shaped frangible strap having an inner portion coupled to the cap, an outer portion coupled to the body and a serpentine portion arranged to interconnect companion inner and outer portions, the S-shaped frangible strap being arranged to stretch and straighten during pivoting movement of the cap about the hinge relative to the body from the closed position toward the opened position.