Tamper evident closure for containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567143-B2
Application number	US-201314913567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A tamper-evident closure ( 110 ) for containers includes a closure shell ( 112 ) having a top surface ( 118 ) and a depending skirt ( 120 ). The top surface defines a first aperture ( 124 ) therethrough and a frangible portion ( 122 ). The skirt defines an open lower end ( 20 a ) for engaging a container. A tamper-evident tearable member ( 114 ) overlies the top surface of the closure shell and defines a second aperture ( 126 ) overlying the first aperture. A removable closure cap ( 116 ) overlies the top surface of the closure shell and the tearable member. The closure cap has an annular ring ( 132 ) projecting downwardly from an under-side of the closure cap and extending through the first and second apertures. The annular ring attaches to an underside of the frangible portion. At least partial removal of the closure cap from the top surface of the closure shell peels the frangible portion away from the top surface of the closure shell along the scoring, and tears the tamper-evident member.

First claim

We claim:

1. A tamper evident closure for a container comprising:
a closure shell having a top surface and a depending skirt, the top surface defining a first aperture extending therethrough and a scored frangible portion surrounding the first aperture, the depending skirt defining an open lower end for engagement with an open end of a container;
a tamper evident tearable member overlying at least a portion of the top surface of the closure shell and defining a second aperture overlying the first aperture; and
a removable closure cap overlying the top surface of the closure shell and the tamper evident tearable member, the closure cap having an annular ring projecting downwardly from an underside thereof, extending through the first and second apertures and attached to an underside of the frangible portion,
wherein at least partial removal of the closure cap from the top surface of the closure shell peels at least a portion of the frangible portion away from the top surface of the closure shell along said scoring, thereby at least partially tearing the tamper evident tearable member.

2. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the tearable member comprises a single foil or paper layer.

3. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the tearable member comprises a bottom layer of a first color having indicia of a contrasting color thereon, and a transparent overlying upper layer having the same indicia thereon in the same respective location and in the first color, the upper and bottom layers define mirrored overlying second apertures.

4. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 3 , wherein the bottom layer is securely attached to the top surface of the closure shell and the upper layer is removably attached to the bottom layer.

5. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 4 , wherein removal or partial removal of the closure cap from the top surface peels the upper layer away from the bottom layer.

6. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 3 , wherein the upper and bottom layers are constructed of a polymer.

7. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the closure shell is constructed of a metal or polymer.

8. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the closure cap is constructed of a flexible polymer.

9. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the closure cap is at least partially transparent or translucent.

10. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the tearable member is adhesively attached to the top surface of the closure shell.

11. A tamper evident closure as defined claim 1 , wherein the tearable member defines a surface area of equal or less area than a surface area of the top surface of the closure shell.

12. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second aperture in the tearable member is smaller than the frangible portion of the top surface.

13. A tamper evident closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first aperture in the top surface of the closure shell is generally centrally disposed on the closure shell, and the second aperture in the tearable member is in registry with the first aperture.

Assignees

• West Pharmaceutical Services Inc

Inventors

• Carvajal Michael A
• Corrigan Sean J
• Grider Keith
• Humphrey Phil
• Vor Dem Esche Markus
• Wolfe John R
• Zhao Xia

Classifications

• B65D55/024 Primary

  Closures in which a part has to be ruptured to gain access to the contents (B65D41/32, B65D43/0235, B65D55/022, B65D55/06 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2401/00

  Tamper-indicating means · CPC title

• B65D51/245

  provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels (B65D81/366 takes precedence) · CPC title