US 4,819,825 A · Tear strip closure with improved tamper indication

Abstract

Disclosed is a container and closure assembly including a container having a substantially circular opening and an outer wall containing an upper retention bead and a lower, regularly-outwardly extending security ring. The closure includes a one-piece plastic body having a top panel and an encircling skirt depending from the top panel so as to be integrally attached thereto. The skirt includes a groove for locking engagement with the retention bead to retain the closure on the container. A circumferential line of weakness in the skirt wall defines a removable tear strip having a movable free edge and which is removable from an upper portion of the skirt wall by fracturing the skirt wall along the upper line of weakness. A tear strip is weakened so as to form a plurality of circumferentially-spaced segments throughout the substantial entirety of its periphery. The segments are separable one from another in response to a prying or wedging force applied to the tear strip at the free edge thereof.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A container and closure assembly comprising:

a container having a substantially circular opening and an outer wall with a retention bead and a substantially continuous radially outwardly extending security ring on the outer wall;
and
a closure including
a one-piece plastic body having a top panel,
an encircling skirt depending from the top panel so as to be integrally attached thereto, and having a lower edge adjacent the security ring,
a locking means on the skirt for interlocking with said retention bead to retain the closure on the container,
a removable tear strip having a lower free edge and located on a lower portion of the skirt for removal to indicate that the closure has been opened,
means providing a line of weakness in the lower portion of the skirt and defining a breakable connection between the tear strip and skirt, and
weakening means for weakening said tear strip so as to form a plurality of circumferentially-spaced weakened segments in the tear strip throughout substantially the entire lower free edge thereof, the segments separable from one another in response to a prying force applied to the tear strip at the lower free edge thereof so as to indicate that a prying force has been applied to said closure.

6 more elements

A closure for use with a container having a substantially circular opening and an outer wall with a retention bead, comprising:

a one-piece plastic body having a top panel;
an encircling skirt depending from the top panel so as to be integrally attached thereto, and having a lower edge positionable adjacent the security ring when the closure is mated to the container;
a locking means on the skirt for interlocking with the container retention bead to retain the closure on the container;
a removable tear strip having a lower free edge and located on a lower portion of the skirt for removal to indicate that the closure has been opened;
means providing a line of weakness in the lower portion of the skirt and defining a breakable connection between the tear strip and the skirt;
and
weakening means for weakening said tear strip so as to form a plurality of circumferentially-spaced weakened segments in the tear strip throughout substantially the entire lower free edge thereof, the segments separable from one another in response to a prying force applied to the tear strip at the lower free edge thereof so as to indicate that a prying force has been applied to said closure.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tear strip closure with improved tamper indication

Life of this patent

Tear strip closure with improved tamper indication

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20