Close nesting, tamperproof container closure

Abstract

A close nesting, single element, easy-opening tamper-proof closure for wide-mouth containers, especially externally beaded, round, nestable cup-like containers formed from paper or plastic, the closure comprising a central panel adapted to substantially span the mouth of the associated container and formed from paper, a non-shrinkable plastic material, or the like, and further comprising a frusto-conically shaped skirt formed from a double-ended blank of a plastic material which is highly oriented in the direction extending circumferentially of the closure, the overlapped ends of the blank being heat sealed or otherwise joined to one another inwardly of the outermost of the ends thereof, the inner smaller diameter of the skirt being adhesively joined to the outer periphery of the central panel, the skirt being shrinkable, upon the application of heat thereto when the closure is in place over the mouth of a filled container, to shrink into tight engagement with the mouth of the container, the outermost free end of the closure skirt serving as a pull tab by which the skirt may be conveniently separated from the panel when it is desired to open the container and to give a clearly visual indication that the container has been opened upon the first opening thereof. Such a closure may be provided in either flush-style or plug-style embodiments.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.