Tamperproof closure

Claim 2

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one circumferential projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened and substantially coinciding with the apex of said circumferential projection when the closure is in place on the container whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container and means defining a further line of weakening in the tear band component, said further line of weakening extending for a portion of the closure circumference in a direction parallel to the weakened line of junction between said cap portion and said tear band component, said further line of weakening then extending obliquely to the free edge of the tear band component, and a tear tab extending from said tear band component between said juncture line of weakening and said further line of weakening.

Claim 3

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed completely from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, at least the outer wall of the container adjacent the open end being a smooth, seam-free surface and said cap portion having a skirt with at least one circumferential bead on its inner surface engaging said smooth, seam-free surface of the container to provide a first seal area therebetween in the closed position, and means defining a further line of weakening in the tear band component, said further line of weakening extending for a portion of the closure circumference in a direction parallel to the weakened line of junction between said cap portion and said tear band component, said further line of weakening then extending obliquely to the free edge of the tear band component, and a tear tab extending from said tear band component between said juncture line of weakening and said further line of weakening.

Claim 4

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed completely from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, at least the outer wall of the container adjacent the open end being a smooth, seam-free surface and said cap portion having a skirt with at least one circumferential bead on its inner surface engaging said smooth, seam-free surface of the container to provide a first seal area therebetween in the closed position, and means defining a further line of weakening in the tear band component, said further line of weakening extending for a portion of the closure circumference in a direction parallel to the weakened line of junction between said cap portion and said tear band component, said further line of weakening then extending obliquely to the free edge of the tear band component, and a tear tab extending from said tear band component between said juncture line of weakening and said further line of weakening.

Claim 5

A container and closure assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inside of the top of the cap portion seats against the top edge of the container to define a second seal area and providing an annular anticapillary cavity between said first and second seal areas.

Claim 6

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one circumferential projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, the outer surface of said circumferential projection having a downwardly and outwardly divergent frustoconical surface and the lower terminal edge of said cap portion having a sloping surface mating with said frustoconical surface of said circumferential projection to provide a surface-to-surface seal when the cap portion is seated over the open end of said container, and means defining a further line of weakening in the tear band component, said further line of weakening extending for a portion of the closure circumference in a direction parallel to the weakened line of junction between said cap portion and said tear band component, said further line of weakening then extending obliquely to the free edge of the tear band component, and a tear tab extending from said tear band component between said juncture line of weakening and said further line of weakening.

Claim 7

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one circumferential projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, the outer surface of said circumferential projection having a downwardly and outwardly divergent frustoconical surface and the lower terminal edge of said cap portion having a sloping surface mating with said frustoconical surface of said circumferential projection to provide a surface-to-surface seal when the cap portion is seated over the open end of said container, and means defining a further line of weakening in the tear band component, said further line of weakening extending for a portion of the closure circumference in a direction parallel to the weakened line of junction between said cap portion and said tear band component, said further line of weakening then extending obliquely to the free edge of the tear band component, and a tear tab extending from said tear band component between said juncture line of weakening and said further line of weakening.

Claim 8

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having a smooth, seam-free outer surface, a single circumferential projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened and substantially coinciding with the apex of said circumferential projection when the closure is in place on the container, whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container without interference from said projection, and means defining a further line of weakening in the tear band component, said further line of weakening extending for a portion of the closure circumference in a direction parallel to the weakened line of junction between said cap portion and said tear band component, said further line of weakening then extending obliquely to the free edge of the tear band component, and a tear tab extending from said tear band component between said juncture line of weakening and said further line of weakening.

Claim 9

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having a smooth, seam-free outer surface, a single circumferential projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened and substantially coinciding with the apex of said circumferential projection when the closure is in place on the container, whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container without interference from said projection, and means defining a further line of weakening in the tear band component, said further line of weakening extending for a portion of the closure circumference in a direction parallel to the weakened line of junction between said cap portion and said tear band component, said further line of weakening then extending obliquely to the free edge of the tear band component, and a tear tab extending from said tear band component between said juncture line of weakening and said further line of weakening.

Claim 10

A container and closure assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which the container is of circular cross section and of uniform internal diameter, said container having a smaller external diameter above said circumferential projection than below the circumferential projection.

Claim 11

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, at least a portion of the junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened junction, the cap portion can be completely removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, and means on said cap portion immediately adjacent and below a circumferential line of the weakened junction engaging under said projection to hold the cap portion on said container when the tear band has been removed.

Claim 12

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, at least a portion of the junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened junction, the cap portion can be completely removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, and means on said cap portion immediately adjacent and below a circumferential line of the weakened junction engaging under said projection to hold the cap portion on said container when the tear band has been removed.

Claim 13

A container and closure assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the tear band portion is connected to the cap portion by circumferentially spaced scored areas.

Claim 14

A container and closure assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cap portion includes a skirt having at least one circumferential bead on its innEr surface adapted to engage the sidewall of the container to provide a first seal area therebetween in the closed position.

Claim 15

A container and closure assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said container is provided with a circumferential groove and wherein said bead sits in said groove in the closed position.

Claim 16

A container and closure assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said container and skirt of said cap portion are provided with cooperating circumferentially extending beads.

Claim 17

A container and closure assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the wall of the container confronting the tear band portion and the tear band portion are of a relative size to provide an interference fit and wherein the wall of the container above the projection is of smaller dimension than said tear band to facilitate assembly of the closure to the container.

Claim 18

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, the junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened junction, the cap portion can be completely removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, said cap portion including a circumferential skirt having a plurality of ear portions, each of said ear portions having a return lip adapted to engage under the projection on the container.

Claim 19

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, the junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened junction, the cap portion can be completely removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, said cap portion including a circumferential skirt having a plurality of ear portions, each of said ear portions having a return lip adapted to engage under the projection on the container.

Claim 20

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, at least a portion of the junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened and disposed below the projection whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened junction, the cap portion can be completely removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, and means on said cap portion immediately adjacent and below a circumferential line of the weakened junction engaging under said projection to hold the cap portion on said container when the tear band has been removed, the outer surface of said circumferential projection and the lower terminal edge of said cap portion having complementary mating surfaces providing a surface-to-surface seal when the cap portion is seated over the open end of said container.

Claim 21

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the container having at least one projection extending from the outer surface of the container adjacent its open end, at least a portion of the junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened and disposed below the projection whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened junction, the cap portion can be completely removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, and means on said cap portion immediately adjacent and below a circumferential line of the weakened junction engaging under said projection to hold the cap portion on said container when the tear band has been removed, the outer surface of said circumferential projection and the lower terminal edge of said cap portion having complementary mating surfaces providing a surface-to-surface seal when the cap portion is seated over the open end of said container.

Claim 22

A tamperproof closure for closing the open end of a container having projection means for securing the closure in place comprising a cap portion, a tear band, fracturable means detachably securing the tear band to said cap portion, removal of said tear band portion permitting removal of said cap portion from said container, and means on said cap portion immediately adjacent and below a circumferential line of the fracturable means detachably securing the tear band to said cap portion engageable under the projection means to hold the cap portion on the container when the tear band has been removed.

Claim 23

A tamperproof closure for closing the open end of a container having projection means for securing the closure in place comprising a cap portion, a tear band, fracturable means detachably securing the tear band to said cap portion, removal of said tear band portion permitting removal of said cap portion from said container, and means on said cap portion immediately adjacent and below a circumferential line of the fracturable means detachably securing the tear band to said cap portion engageable under the projection means to hold the cap portion on the container when the tear band has been removed.

Claim 24

A tamperproof closure for closing the open end of a container having projection means for securing the closure in place comprising a cap portion, a tear band, fracturable means detachably securing the tear band to said cap portion, removal of said tear band portion permitting removal of said cap portion from said container, said cap portion including a circumferential skirt having a plurality of ear portions, eAch of said ear portions having a return lip adapted to engage under the projection means on the container to hold the cap on the container when the tear band has been removed.

Claim 25

A tamperproof closure for closing the open end of a container having projection means for securing the closure in place comprising a cap portion, a tear band, fracturable means detachably securing the tear band to said cap portion, removal of said tear band portion permitting removal of said cap portion from said container, said cap portion including a circumferential skirt having a plurality of ear portions, eAch of said ear portions having a return lip adapted to engage under the projection means on the container to hold the cap on the container when the tear band has been removed.

Claim 26

A tamperproof closure for closing the open end of a container having projection means for securing the closure in place comprising a cap portion, a tear band, fracturable means detachably securing the tear band to said cap portion, removal of said tear band portion permitting removal of said cap portion from said container, said cap portion including a circumferential skirt having a plurality of ear portions, each of said ear portions having a return lip adapted to engage under the projection means on the container and means on said cap portion adapted to engage under the projection means of the container, said cap portion having a surface complementing the surface of the projection means to provide a surface-to-surface seal when the cap portion is seated on the container.

Claim 27

A tamperproof closure for closing the open end of a container having projection means for securing the closure in place comprising a cap portion, a tear band, fracturable means detachably securing the tear band to said cap portion, removal of said tear band portion permitting removal of said cap portion from said container, said cap portion including a circumferential skirt having a plurality of ear portions, each of said ear portions having a return lip adapted to engage under the projection means on the container and means on said cap portion adapted to engage under the projection means of the container, said cap portion having a surface complementing the surface of the projection means to provide a surface-to-surface seal when the cap portion is seated on the container.

Claim 28

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, at least the outer wall portion of the container adjacent the open end above said projection being a smooth, seam-free surface, said cap portion having a skirt with at least one circumferential bead on its inner surface of a dimension to provide an interference fit with a smooth, seam-free surface of upper wall portion of the container to provide a first seal area.

Claim 29

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, at least the outer wall portion of the container adjacent the open end above said projection being a smooth, seam-free surface, said cap portion having a skirt with at least one circumferential bead on its inner surface of a dimension to provide an interference fit with a smooth, seam-free surface of upper wall portion of the container to provide a first seal area.

Claim 30

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, at least the outer wall portion of the container adjacent the open end above said projection being a smooth, seam-free surface, said cap portion having a skirt with at least one circumferential bead on its inner surface of a dimension to provide an interference fit with a smooth, seam-free surface of upper wall portion of the container to provide a first seal area, and the inside of the top of the cap portion seating against the top edge of the container to define a second seal area and providing an annular anticapillary cavity between said first and second seal areas.

Claim 31

A container and closure assembly of the type in which the closure is formed of a cap portion and a tear band component and the closure cooperates with the container preventing the removal of the closure from the container until the tear band component has been detached, wherein the improvement comprises: the line of junction of the tear band component and of the cap portion of the closure being weakened whereby when said tear band component is torn away along said weakened line of junction, the cap portion can be removed from the container and can subsequently be pressed back on the container, at least the outer wall portion of the container adjacent the open end above said projection being a smooth, seam-free surface, said cap portion having a skirt with at least one circumferential bead on its inner surface of a dimension to provide an interference fit with a smooth, seam-free surface of upper wall portion of the container to provide a first seal area, and the inside of the top of the cap portion seating against the top edge of the container to define a second seal area and providing an annular anticapillary cavity between said first and second seal areas.

Claim 32

A container and closure assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein the inner diameter of the tear band component is greater than the diameter of the wall portion of the container above the projection to facilitate assembly thereof and is of a diameter substantially the same as the wall portion of the container below the projection to provide a snug contact between the tear band and container.