Tamper evidence bridges

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10377534-B2
Application number	US-201715423383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2017
Priority date	Feb 2, 2016
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for a container cap comprising a plurality of tamper evidence bridges configured to provide evidence that the container cap has been removed from a container by other than a manufacturer of the container. The tamper evidence bridges comprise a small tab of material that extends from a bottom-most edge of the container cap to a neck ring of the container. The tamper evidence bridges are configured to break, or snap, when the container cap is rotated relative to the neck ring. Broken tamper evidence bridges provide readily visible evidence to an end-user of the container that the container cap has been removed by other than the manufacturer of the container. The high visibility of the tamper evidence bridges serves to discourage vendors from attempting to refill and resale of the used containers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container configured to provide highly visible evidence of having been opened by other than a manufacturer of the container, comprising:
a base extending upward to a sidewall of the container;
a shoulder connected between the sidewall and a bell, a diameter of the bell decreasing as the bell extends upward to a neck of the container;
a finish connected to the neck and configured to receive a container cap, the finish comprising a neck ring and defining an opening to an interior of the container wherein the container cap is comprised of a multiplicity of scales that are uniformly disposed around the circumference of the bottom-most edge of the container cap and are engagedly coupled with a similar multiplicity of ramps extending from the upper-most surface of the neck ring, and wherein a bridge couples an end of each of the multiplicity of scales with the container cap; and
at least one tamper evidence bridge coupled with the container cap and the neck ring, the at least one tamper evidence bridge being configured to break when the container cap is rotated relative to the finish.

2. A container configured to provide highly visible evidence of having been opened by other than a manufacturer of the container, comprising:
a base extending upward to a sidewall of the container;
a shoulder connected between the sidewall and a bell, a diameter of the bell decreasing as the bell extends upward to a neck of the container;
a finish connected to the neck and configured to receive a container cap, the finish comprising a neck ring and defining an opening to an interior of the container wherein the container cap is comprised of a multiplicity of scales that are uniformly disposed around the circumference of the bottom-most edge of the container cap and are engagedly coupled with a similar multiplicity of ramps extending from the upper-most surface of the neck ring, and wherein a bridge couples an end of each of the multiplicity of scales with the container cap;
wherein each of the multiplicity of scales is comprised of a small tab of material that extends from the bottom-most edge of the container cap in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the top of the container cap, and wherein each of the multiplicity of ramps is comprised of a raised portion of the material extending from an upper-most surface of the neck ring in a clockwise direction with respect to the top of the container cap; and
at least one tamper evidence bridge coupled with the container cap and the neck ring, the at least one tamper evidence bridge being configured to break when the container cap is rotated relative to the finish.

3. A container configured to provide highly visible evidence of having been opened by other than a manufacturer of the container, comprising:
a base extending upward to a sidewall of the container;
a shoulder connected between the sidewall and a bell, a diameter of the bell decreasing as the bell extends upward to a neck of the container;
a finish connected to the neck and configured to receive a container cap, the finish comprising a neck ring and defining an opening to an interior of the container wherein the container cap is comprised of a multiplicity of scales that are uniformly disposed around the circumference of the bottom-most edge of the container cap and are engagedly coupled with a similar multiplicity of ramps extending from the upper-most surface of the neck ring, and wherein a bridge couples an end of each of the multiplicity of scales with the container cap;
wherein each of the multiplicity of scales is comprised of a small tab of material that extends from the bottom-most edge of the container cap in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the top of the container cap, and wherein each of the multiplicity of ramps is comprised of a raised portion of the material extending from an upper-most surface of the neck ring in a clockwise direction with respect to the top of the container cap wherein the multiplicity of ramps is positioned on the neck ring so as to engage with the multiplicity of scales when the container cap is suitably tightened onto the finish; and
at least one tamper evidence bridge coupled with the container cap and the neck ring, the at least one tamper evidence bridge being configured to break when the container cap is rotated relative to the finish.

Assignees

• Niagara Bottling Llc

Inventors

• Hanan Jay Clarke

Classifications

• B65D2401/20

  Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt · CPC title

• B65D41/3409

  the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges · CPC title

• B65D2401/00

  Tamper-indicating means · CPC title

• B65D1/0284

  having a discontinuous contact surface, e.g. discrete feet · CPC title

• B65D1/0246

  Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads · CPC title