Tamper-evident package

Abstract

An improved tamper-evident package includes a plastic closure having a top wall portion, a depending annular skirt portion, and a tamper band at least partially detachably connected to the skirt portion. The package includes a container having a neck portion configured for tamper-indicating cooperation with the projections on the tamper band. The container includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced ratchet-like locking teeth, each of which presents a locking surface for interfering engagement with the respective one of the projections on the closure tamper band. Notably, disposition of the flexible projections of the pilfer band in pre-determined relationship to an internal thread formation of the closure permits the flexible projections to be positioned so that each of the locking teeth on the container is engaged by a respective one of the flexible projections attendant to very little relative rotation of the closure relative to the container during removal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to tamper-evident packaging for products, and more particularly to a tamper-evident package comprising a container and cooperating closure which are configured for efficient manufacture, and which functions to provide readily visually discernable evidence of opening attendant to very limited opening movement of the closure of the package. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Tamper-evident packaging is in very widespread use by virtue of the assurance it provides consumers that the contents of the package are fresh and unadulterated. While it is known to provide packages with tamper-evident overwraps, heat-shrinkable films, and the like, such arrangements can complicate high-speed processing, and undesirably add to the cost of packaging. [0003] In view of this, packaging arrangements have been developed, particularly closures for containers, which include a tamper-evident feature as part of the closure structure. By way of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Notably, the flexible projections of the closure are positioned in a pre-determined relationship to the associated closure thread formation, with the flexible projections sufficiently spaced apart to permit at least one of the container locking teeth to be positioned between adjacent ones of the flexible projections when the closure is fully applied to the container. By this arrangement, preferably each one of the container locking teeth is engaged by a respective one of the flexible projections during closure removal, attendant to as little as 5° of relative rotation, or less, thereby desirably providing very rapid tamper-indication during closure removal. Such rapid tamper-indication can desirably be provided prior to unsealing of the container during closure removal, even when the package includes multi-start thread formations which permit complete closure removal with very little relative rotation.

[0013] The closure of the present tamper-evident package is configured for fitment to the neck portion of the container for closing the opening therein. The closure include a top wall portion, and a depending annular skirt portion having an internal thread formation for mating engagement with the external thread formation on the neck portion of the container. Again, the closure preferably includes a multi-start thread formation, including plural helical thread elements, to promote convenient and efficient application and removal of the closure.

[0015] The tamper band of the closure includes an annular band portion, and a plurality of inwardly extending flexible projections, each movable about a respective hinge portion joined to the annular band portion. In the preferred form, the hinge portion of each projection is relatively thin, thus promoting high-speed application of the closure to the container with minimal resistance from the tamper band, while still permitting the flexible projections to be configured to exhibit the desired rigidity for lockingly engaging the container locking teeth, and fracturing the frangible connection between the pilfer band and the closure skirt.

[0016] At least one of the projections of the tamper band is engageable with at least one of the locking teeth on the container, during removal of the closure from the container, for fracturing the frangible connection to provide visual evidence of opening of the package. Notably, the flexible projections of the tamper band are positioned in predetermined circumferential relationship with respect to the internal thread formation of the closure. By such an arrangement, the position of the flexible projections, relative to the container locking teeth when the closure is fully applied, can be very effectively predetermined. As a consequence, the present package permits each one of the container locking teeth to be engaged by a respective one of the flexible projections during closure removal, thus permitting very rapid tamper-indication during closure removal. To effect such one-to-one locking engagement, the flexible projections are spaced apart by a distance at least as great as the circumferential dimension of each of the locking teeth, that is, the flexible projections are circumferentially spaced sufficiently so as to receive one of the container locking teeth between adjacent ones of the flexible projections when the closure is fully applied to the container.

Problems solved by technology

While it is known to provide packages with tamper-evident overwraps, heat-shrinkable films, and the like, such arrangements can complicate high-speed processing, and undesirably add to the cost of packaging.

In the event that one or more of the flexible projections is not positioned for locking engagement with a respective container locking tooth after closure application, very limited relative rotation is required during closure removal to present a successive one of the flexible projections for locking engagement with the container locking tooth.

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