Tamper proof snap cap

Abstract

The invention provides an improved plastic snap cap with a tamper proof band for sealing wide mouthed plastic containers that have an outwardly protruding, continuous, circumferential bead near the top of the container rim. The cap panel has a depending sealing plug for forming a seal on the inside surface of the container. The inside of the closure skirt has a dual function groove formed to provide a frangible circumferential line and to receive the protruding bead when the cap is snapped into position on the container. The portion of the skirt below the groove serves as a tamper proof tear strip, and normally prevents removal of the closure. The groove on the inside of the closure skirt does not extend around the entire inner circumference of the skirt, but leaves a small section of the skirt with no groove or recess to receive the protruding bead. Therefore, when the cap is in place on the container, the protruding bead causes this section of the skirt to bulge slightly outward. A vertical score line extends from each end of the discontinuous groove to the bottom of the tamper proof band. The small bulged area and vertical score lines permit the tamper proof band to be easily grasped and torn away from the closure along the peripherally weakened area provided by the discontinuous groove.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.