US 2022/0024649 A1Published application

Tamper Evident Container Cap Method and Apparatus

AssigneeCap-Thin Molds Inc.

InventorDavid Yu

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Abstract

A cap for a container includes an annular tamper evident band with a generally rigid cylindrical frame having an upper ring and a plurality of ribs extending axially from the ring and spaced circumferentially apart about the ring. A plurality of retainer elements are supported by the frame, each retainer element connected at circumferentially opposed ends by resiliently flexible webs to adjacent ones of the ribs. The retainer elements are biased to a radially contracted position, in which the retainer elements protrude inwardly to engage an underside surface of a neck flange of the container. The retainer elements are movable to a radially expanded position in which the retainer elements can be advanced axially past the neck flange when installing the cap onto the container for the first time.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A cap for a container, comprising:

a) a main cap body including an annular sidewall extending along an axis, the annular sidewall having a sidewall upper end adjacent a cap upper end closed by a top panel and a sidewall lower end adjacent a cap lower end opposite the top panel;
and
b) an annular tamper evident band disposed about the axis and adjacent the sidewall lower end, the tamper evident band including:
a generally rigid cylindrical frame having:
an upper ring at a frame upper edge frangibly connected to the sidewall lower end by a plurality of frangible bridges spaced apart circumferentially about the axis;
a plurality of ribs circumferentially spaced from one another about the axis and extending from the upper ring to a frame lower end opposite the frame upper end, each frangible bridge of the plurality of frangible bridges circumferentially aligned with a rib of the plurality of ribs;
and
the cylindrical frame having a frame inner diameter larger than a neck flange outer diameter of a neck flange;
a plurality of retainer elements circumferentially spaced from one another about the axis in alternating arrangement with the plurality of ribs, each radially inwardly directed retainer element joined at a retainer first end to a first adjacent rib by a first resiliently flexible connecting web and at a retainer second end circumferentially opposite the retainer first end to a second adjacent rib by a second resiliently flexible connecting web;
and
wherein each retainer element is, by resilient expansion and contraction of the first and second resiliently flexible connecting webs, movable between a contracted position defining a retainer element first inner diameter and an expanded position defining a retainer element second inner diameter, the retainer element first inner diameter less than the neck flange outer diameter for engaging an underside surface of the neck flange when in the contracted position, and the retainer element second inner diameter greater than the neck flange outer diameter when in the expanded position.

8 more elements

A cap for a container, comprising:

a) a main cap body including an annular sidewall extending along an axis, the annular sidewall having a sidewall upper end adjacent a cap upper end closed by a top panel and a sidewall lower end opposite the top panel, the annular sidewall including:
a main body shoulder portion adjacent the sidewall lower end, the main body shoulder portion including an axially downwardly directed main body bearing surface;
b) an annular tamper evident band disposed about the axis and adjacent the sidewall lower end, the tamper evident band including:
a generally rigid cylindrical frame having a frame upper edge frangibly connected to the sidewall lower end by a plurality of frangible bridges spaced apart circumferentially about the axis, the cylindrical frame including a tamper band shoulder portion adjacent the upper edge, the tamper band shoulder portion including an axially upwardly directed tamper band bearing surface, the tamper band bearing surface opposite and spaced apart from the main body bearing surface by a separation gap, and the frame including an axially downwardly directed mold ejection surface opposite the tamper band bearing surface;
and
a plurality of retainer elements supported by the cylindrical frame and spaced apart circumferentially about the axis.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A cap for a container, comprising:

a) a main cap body including an annular sidewall extending along an axis, the annular sidewall having a sidewall upper end adjacent a cap upper end closed by a top panel and a sidewall lower end adjacent a cap lower end opposite the top panel;
and
b) an annular tamper evident band disposed about the axis and adjacent the sidewall lower end, the tamper evident band including:
a generally rigid cylindrical frame having:
an upper ring at a frame upper edge frangibly connected to the sidewall lower end by a plurality of frangible bridges spaced apart circumferentially about the axis;
a plurality of ribs circumferentially spaced from one another about the axis and extending from the upper ring to a frame lower end opposite the frame upper end, each frangible bridge of the plurality of frangible bridges circumferentially aligned with a rib of the plurality of ribs;
and
the cylindrical frame having a frame inner diameter larger than a neck flange outer diameter of a neck flange;
a plurality of retainer elements circumferentially spaced from one another about the axis in alternating arrangement with the plurality of ribs, each radially inwardly directed retainer element joined at a retainer first end to a first adjacent rib by a first resiliently flexible connecting web and at a retainer second end circumferentially opposite the retainer first end to a second adjacent rib by a second resiliently flexible connecting web;
and
wherein each retainer element is, by resilient expansion and contraction of the first and second resiliently flexible connecting webs, movable between a contracted position defining a retainer element first inner diameter and an expanded position defining a retainer element second inner diameter, the retainer element first inner diameter less than the neck flange outer diameter for engaging an underside surface of the neck flange when in the contracted position, and the retainer element second inner diameter greater than the neck flange outer diameter when in the expanded position.

8 more elements