US3650428A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamperproof closure device
Assignee: VCA Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-09
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Granted: 1972-03-21
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Expires: 1990-04-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates generally to closure members for application to external thread convolutions of a container and more particularly to an improvement in such closure members whereby unauthorized or unintentional unscrewing of the closure may be readily detected. The embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein include an internally threaded closure member or cap and a locking ring fracturably connected with the lower margin of the cap. Ratchet teeth provided along the inner surface of the locking ring are adapted to interlock with complementary external teeth or protuberances on the container to resist forces tending to unscrew the cap after it has been finally tightened in place. If the cap is subjected to sufficient force tending to unscrew the cap while the ratchet teeth abut the external container protuberances, the fracturable connection will rupture, thereby affording a clear indication that the cap may have been tampered with.
Inventors
- 👤 Christian F Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:46
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3404; B65D41/3409; B65D2401/00; B65D2401/15; B65D2401/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A tamper proof closure device for application to a container having external closure accommodating thread convolutions circumferentially distributed peripheral abutments in the vicinity of said convolutions, and an annular closure engageable shoulder located between said convolutions and said abutments, including an internally threaded cap body, an annularly disposed cap locking section in the vicinity of and below said internal thread convolutions having internal locking teeth adapted, when the cap body is rotatably tightened upon complementary external container threads, to interlock with complementary peripheral container abutments, whereby to counteract retrograde rotary forces to which the cap body may be subjected, a fracturable integral coupling between the cap body and the annular locking section and an annular abutment surface interposed between said cap locking section and the lowermost internal thread convolution for engaging a complemental shoulder of a container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A tamper proof closure device for application to a container having external closure accommodating thread convolutions circumferentially distributed peripheral abutments in the vicinity of said convolutions, and an annular closure engageable shoulder located between said convolutions and said abutments, including an internally threaded cap body, an annularly disposed cap locking section in the vicinity of and below said internal thread convolutions having internal locking teeth adapted, when the cap body is rotatably tightened upon complementary external container threads, to interlock with complementary peripheral container abutments, whereby to counteract retrograde rotary forces to which the cap body may be subjected, a fracturable integral coupling between the cap body and the annular locking section and an annular abutment surface interposed between said cap locking section and the lowermost internal thread convolution for engaging a complemental shoulder of a container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tamper proof closure device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the internal locking teeth are in the form of ratchet teeth which permit tightening rotation of the closure device, but are adapted to lockingly engage complementary peripheral container abutments to counteract retrograde rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tamper proof closure device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fracturable integral coupling is located between the lower margin of the cap body and the upper margin of the annularly disposed cap locking section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tamper proof closure device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the annularly disposed cap locking section comprises a uniformly continuous ring member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tamper proof closure device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the annularly disposed locking section comprises a member in the form of a discontinuous ring and a fracturable tab member formed integral with and coupling the opposite extremities of said discontinuous ring member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tamper proof closure device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the upper margin of the discontinuous ring member is connected to the lower margin of the cap body by fracturable coupling means of limited cross section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
The combination including a container having external thread convolutions in the vicinity of an open area thereof, circumferentially distributed peripheral abutments in the vicinity of and below said external thread convolutions, an annular closure engageable shoulder located between said convolutions and said abutments, a closure dEvice for said container including an internally threaded cap body and an annularly disposed cap locking section in the vicinity of and below said internal thread convolutions having locking teeth which are so disposed that when the cap body is rotatably tightened upon said container, said internal teeth will interlock with the above-mentioned circumferentially distributed peripheral abutments to counteract retrograde rotary forces to which the cap body may be subjected, a fracturable integral coupling between the cap body and the annular locking section and an annular abutment surface interposed between said cap locking section and the lowermost thread convolution thereof for engaging the aforesaid container shoulder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
The combination including a container having external thread convolutions in the vicinity of an open area thereof, circumferentially distributed peripheral abutments in the vicinity of and below said external thread convolutions, an annular closure engageable shoulder located between said convolutions and said abutments, a closure dEvice for said container including an internally threaded cap body and an annularly disposed cap locking section in the vicinity of and below said internal thread convolutions having locking teeth which are so disposed that when the cap body is rotatably tightened upon said container, said internal teeth will interlock with the above-mentioned circumferentially distributed peripheral abutments to counteract retrograde rotary forces to which the cap body may be subjected, a fracturable integral coupling between the cap body and the annular locking section and an annular abutment surface interposed between said cap locking section and the lowermost thread convolution thereof for engaging the aforesaid container shoulder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the annularly disposed cap locking section is in the nature of a discontinuous ring member and includes integral tab means adapted to be gripped for rupturing said integral coupling.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |