Tamper indicating container-closure package

A tamper indicating container-closure package comprising, in combination:

• a container having a threaded neck;
• an outwardly extending flange on said neck below said threads;
• a tamper indicating band circumposing said neck and attached to said flange by a plurality of circumferentially spaced frangible webs;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth on the free end of said band;
• a closure cap having a top and a skirt depending from said top with threads for engagement with said container neck threads;
• and
• a circumferential array of equally spaced ratchet teeth at the lower end of said cap skirt;
• whereby when said cap is affixed to said container neck and unthreading torque is applied to said cap, at least one of said teeth on said band will engage a ratchet tooth on said cap to prevent unthreading of said cap from said container neck without fracture of said frangible webs thereby indicating tampering or initial opening of said cap on said container neck.

A tamper indicating container-closure package comprising, in combination:

• a container having a threaded neck;
• an outwardly extending flange on said neck below the threaded portion of said neck;
• a tamper indicating band circumposing said neck and attached to said flange by a plurality of circumferentially spaced frangible webs;
• a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth on the free end of said band;
• a closure cap having a top and a skirt depending from said top with threads for engagement with said container neck threads;
• and
• a plurality of equally spaced ratchet teeth at the lower end of said cap skirt;
• whereby when said cap is affixed to said container neck, and unthreading torque is applied to said cap, at least one of said pairs of ratchet teeth on said band will engage ratchet teeth on said cap to prevent unthreading from said container neck without fracture of said frangible webs, thereby indicating tampering or initial opening of said cap on said container neck.

A tamper indicating container-closure package comprising, in combination:

• a container having a threaded neck;
• an outwardly extending flange on said neck below the threaded portion of said neck;
• a tamper indicating band circumposing said neck and attached to said flange by a plurality of circumferentially spaced frangible webs, said band being discontinuous, presenting spaced ends which are substantially opposed to each other;
• a plurality of circumferentially spaced pawls on the free end of said band;
• a closure cap having a top and a skirt depending from said top with threads for engagement with said container neck threads;
• a plurality of equally spaced teeth at the lower end of said cap skirt;
• and
• a lug extending axially from said container neck flange between said opposed band ends;
• whereby when said cap is threaded onto said container neck, the downstream end of the band in the threading direction will be pushed into contact with said lug by the contact of the cap ratchet teeth with said pawls, preventing fracture of said frangible webs, and when unthreading torque is applied to said cap, at least one of said pawls will engage a ratchet tooth on said cap to prevent unthreading from said container neck without fracture of said frangible webs, thereby indicating tampering or initial opening of said cap on said container neck, said lug deflecting outwardly the upstream end of said band in the unthreading direction as said webs are fractured.

A tamper indicating container-closure package comprising, in combination:

• a container having a threaded neck;
• an outwardly extending flange on said neck below said threads;
• a tamper indicating band circumposing said neck and attached to said flange by a plurality of circumferentially spaced frangible webs;
• a plurality of pawls on the free end of said band;
• a closure cap having a top and a skirt depending from said top with threads for engagement with said container neck threads;
• and
• a circumferential array of equally spaced ratchet teeth contained within a recess formed by a wall portion of said cap skirt;
• whereby when said cap is affixed to said container neck said wall portion of said cap skirt overlaps said tamper indicating band and said pawls so that said cap ratchet teeth and pawls are not visible, and when unthreading torque is applied to said cap, at least one of said teeth on said band will engage a ratchet tooth on said cap to prevent unthreading of said cap from said container neck without fracture of said frangible webs thereby indicating tampering or initial opening of said cap on said container neck.

A tamper indicating container for use with a threaded closure cap having a top and a depending skirt with an annular array of spaced ratchet teeth extending away from said top, said container comprising:

• a threaded neck;
• an outwardly extending flange on said neck below said threads;
• a tamper indicating band circumposing said neck and attached to said flange by a plurality of circumferentially spaced frangible webs;
• and
• a plurality of spaced pawls on the free end of said band;
• whereby when a cap is affixed to said container neck and unthreading torque is applied to said cap, at least one of said pawls will engage a ratchet tooth on said cap to prevent unthreading of said cap from said container neck without fracture of said frangible webs thereby indicating tampering or initial opening of said cap on said container neck.