Closure having linked tabs

Abstract

Provided is a plastic stopper of a screw type closure for a container having a closure shell and a tamper band. The tamper band is separably connected to the closure shell through at least a weakness line and has a plurality of interrupted tabs designed to be secured under a ring of a bottle neck, where each of the plurality of tabs extends along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal end of each of said tab, wherein at least two adjacent of the tabs are connected together with at least a link, the link extending from a lateral wall of one of the at least two of the tabs, to a corresponding opposite lateral wall of the other of the at least two of the tabs.

Description

[0001] CLOSURE HAVING LINKED TABS

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a plastic stopper of a screw type, in particular a screw type closure having tabs on a tamper band that undergoes a folding operation prior to installation of the closure on a container.

[0004] Background

[0005] In the field of liquid packaging, it is very common to seal the aperture of a container with a stopper, so-called “cap”. Such container is an individual object. The container is usually made of plastic, glass or metal material. The container can be a bottle filled with a fluid or a liquid, especially of a beverage, a food or of a cosmetic product. Moreover, such bottle comprises a neck at a top part. The bottle neck comprises a peripheral wall and at a top end an aperture through which the bottle is filled and emptied. The aperture is aimed to be sealed by a stopper.

[0006] Such stopper can be made of metal or plastic material. The stopper is made of one or several piece(s). A plastic stopper is mainly obtained through a molding process. Other parts or elements of the stopper can be created into the plastic piece through a cutting or slitting step during the manufacturing process.

[0007] Such stopper globally has a tubular or cylindrical shaped body closed at its top edge by a roof wall. The stopper body comprises a closure shell with sealing mean, such as sealing lip(s) which downwardly extends relative to the top roof inside the stopper. Such sealing lip(s) are designed to cooperate with the top end of the peripheral wall of the bottle neck in order to tightly close the aperture.

[0008] The closure shell is also attached at the bottom to a tamper band (also called “tamper evident ring”) through at least one weakness line. Such weakness line is made of bridges, distributed around the closure shell and the tamper band so that the bridges link the closure shell and the tamper band together. Moreover, the bridges are made when molding the stopper or after molding through a cutting step.

[0009] As known, according to a screw type stopper, the closure shell comprises inner thread(s) arranged on the inner side walls. In order to engage the stopper to seal the container, the peripheral wall of the neck comprises outer complementary fixation features, such as outer thread(s). The combination of outer and inner thread(s) allows the stopper to be screwed on the container neck to seal the aperture and unscrewed for container opening. During bottle opening, the consumer first unscrews the stopper and the weakness line is broken to separate the closure shell from the tamper band. Background

[0010] Usually the tamper band of a screw type stopper comprises a tamper band feature, located at a bottom part. Such tamper band feature is designed to cooperate with an outer annular ring outwardly located on the peripheral wall of the bottle neck, under the outer thread(s).

[0011] Moreover, due to the stopper fabrication process by molding, the stopper is released from a central core of a mold and the tamper band feature downwardly extends relative to the tamper band. Then, the tamper band feature must be reverted inside the stopper, from bottom to top, to get into an inward position relative to the tamper band, where the tamper band feature will cooperate with the bottle neck outer annular ring when the stopper is engaged to seal the container.

[0012] Once the tamper band feature is in the inward position, the stopper is placed on the container neck in order to seal its aperture by screwing the stopper on the bottle neck. Such sealing operation includes a step when the tamper band and the tamper band feature must go from top to bottom through the outer annular ring of the neck. During the passage of the ring, the tamper band feature is pushed outwardly until it is blocked against the inner wall of the tamper band, the tamper band feature being folded around the bottom junction with the tamper band. Then, when going under the ring, the tamper band feature elastically comes back inwardly and secures the stopper on the bottle neck.

[0013] Then, as the tamper band feature is locked under the ring, when opening by unscrewing the stopper, the tamper band remains on the bottle neck and only the closure shell is moved up. During unscrewing, the bridges of the weakness line are torn apart from the closure shell until they break and the closure shell can be moved relative to the tamper band secured on the bottle neck.

[0014] As known, the tamper band feature comprises an inwardly folded band made of separated tabs. The tabs are interrupted and regularly spaced around the tamper band. Such tabs are usually used for stoppers having rigid material, such as polypropylene (PP).

[0015] To accommodate a folding operation of the tamper band, the tabs are interrupted and have a geometrical shape, such as a trapezoidal shape, which is convergent along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal wall of each of said tab, in order to be folded from the outward position to the inward position inside the stopper. Also, the number of tabs may depend on the size of the stopper. In order to allow said tabs to be inverted, their width is based upon the combination of multiple factors such as resin type, diameter of the stopper, and the number of tabs.

[0016] Once the stopper is engaged on the bottle neck, when opening, the tabs are pushed up against the underside of the outer annular ring and the peripheral wall of the bottle neck, locking the tamper band. Especially, the distal wall of each of the tabs comes in contact with the underside of the ring. Such interrupted tabs reduce a risk of being folded back.

[0017] As the tabs are interrupted, when unscrewing the stopper, there is a risk that some of the tabs fold back, due to the pressure generated by the rotation force, so that some of the bridges would not break and the closure shell would remain partially attached to the tamper band. The consumer would then be obliged to stretch or to tuck the closure shell, to totally separate it from the tamper evident band, which is undesirable.

[0018] In the worst case, some of adjacent tabs fold back and an entire angular portion of the tamper band goes over the bottle neck ring, which prevents the stopper from being correctly opened.

[0019] Summary of Invention

[0020] An object of the present invention is to improve a plastic stopper, of a screw type, wherein some of the tabs are linked together in order to increase the resistance of the tabs, so that they are not folded back or they do not revert back to an unfolded position when unsealing the bottle.

[0021] Therefore, the invention relates to a plastic stopper of a screw type, comprising a closure shell and a tamper band, the tamper band being separably connected to the closure shell through at least a weakness line. The tamper band has an upper portion and a lower edge, the lower edge comprising a plurality of interrupted tabs being individually molded and designed to be secured under a ring of a bottle neck. Each of the plurality of tabs extends along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal end of each of said tab, wherein at least two adjacent of the tabs are connected together with at least a link, the link extending from a lateral wall of one of the at least two of the tabs, to a corresponding opposite lateral wall of the other of the at least two of the tabs.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the tabs are linked two by two to form interrupted pairs of tabs.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the tabs are linked three by three.

[0024] According to an embodiment, a half of the tabs are linked together and another half of the tabs are linked together, forming two distinct linked portions.

[0025] According to an embodiment, each of the at least two the tabs comprises a distal wall at the distal end, the link extending in the continuity of the distal walls of the at least two tabs. In other words, the links are in the same general plane as the tabs and the distal walls of the tabs form a concentric circle to the circumference of the closure shell.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the link extends between the distal end and the tamper band, between lateral walls of the at least two tabs. According to an embodiment, each of the two tabs comprises a top surface, the link extending in the continuity along the top surfaces of the at least two tabs. A top surface is the surface of the tab that contacts the neck of the closure.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the at least two tabs comprises a bottom surface, the link extending in the continuity along the bottom surfaces of the at least two tabs.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the link extends in a middle area of the distal walls of each of the two tabs.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the link extends inside the stopper relative to the distal walls of the at least two tabs relative to the radial direction, allowing the link to stretch when going from a molding position to a position for assembly with the finish.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the link has a concave shape relative to the distal wall.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the link has a convex shape relative to the distal wall.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the link has a convex shape and the convex shape of the link is curved.

[0033] According to an embodiment, the link has a convex shape, the convex shape of the link comprises at least two straight segments {e.g., forming a V-shape).

[0034] According to an embodiment, the link has a convex shape, the convex shape of the link is V-shaped with a tip extending inside the stopper relative to the radial direction.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the link has a convex shape, the link extends above the top surface of the at least two tabs.

[0036] According to an embodiment, the link has a convex shape, the link extends under the bottom surface of the at least two tabs.

[0037] According to an embodiment, each of the tabs has a trapezoidal shape, which is convergent.

[0038] In various embodiments, the link can be about the same thickness as the tabs or less than that of the tabs from the top to bottom.

[0039] In various embodiments, the link can have a proximal-distal length less than that of the tabs, thereby forming a strap-like shape. In other embodiments, the link is continuous between adjacent tabs, such that connected tabs are separated by a rectangular, divergent trapezoidal, or triangular gap.

[0040] Brief description of the Drawings

[0041] The invention can be better understood on reading the following description given merely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a stopper according to a first embodiment, especially showing pairs of tabs linked together, each pair being separated from another;

[0043] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic bottom view of another example of a stopper showing pairs of tabs linked together, each pair being separated from another;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic bottom view of a stopper according to a second embodiment, showing all of the tabs linked together at a distal end;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic bottom view of a stopper according to a third embodiment, especially showing pairs of linked tabs with a link located proximally to the distal end;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic front view (from the distal end) of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a link between two of the tabs with a top location;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic front view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a link between two of the tabs with a middle top location;

[0048] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic front view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a link between two of the tabs with a middle bottom location;

[0049] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic front view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a link between two of the tabs with a bottom location;

[0050] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic front view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a concave round link between two of the tabs with a bottom location;

[0051] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic front view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a convex round link between two of the tabs with a bottom location;

[0052] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic front view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a convex inverted V shaped link between two of the tabs with a top location;

[0053] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic front view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a convex V shaped link between two of the tabs with a bottom location;

[0054] FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic top view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a link with a continuous straight direction along the distal walls of two tabs;

[0055] FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic top view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a link between two of the tabs;

[0056] FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic top view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a convex round link between two of the tabs regarding the distal walls of said two tabs;

[0057] FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic top view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a concave round link between two of the tabs regarding the distal walls of said two tabs;

[0058] FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic top view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a concave inverted V shaped link between two of the tabs;

[0059] FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic top view of two tabs of the tamper band feature, especially showing a convex V shaped link between two of the tabs.

[0060] Detailed description of the Invention

[0061] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, for example, exemplary, and similar terms, refer expansively to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern.

[0062] In some instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0063] Phrasing such as 'configured to' perform a function, including in the claims, can include any or all of being sized, shaped, positioned in the arrangement, and comprising material to perform the function.

[0064] Terms indicating quantity, such as ‘first’ or ‘second’ are used for exemplary and explanation purposes and are not intended to dictate the specific ordering of a component with respect to other components. Terms indicating position such as ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ or ‘front’ and ‘back’ are used to indicate components relation to one another. One of skill in the art would recognize other configurations are possible.

[0065] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the claims.

[0066] Firstly, the invention relates to a stopper 1. The stopper 1 has a global tubular or cylindrical shaped body. The stopper 1 is closed at a top end and opened at a bottom end. So the stopper 1 can be inserted, from top to bottom, on an aperture of a container in order to seal said container.

[0067] Such a container is an individual object. The container is usually made of plastic, glass or metal material. The container can be a bottle filled with a fluid or a liquid, especially a fluid or a liquid, such as a beverage, of a food or a cosmetic product. Such bottle comprises at its top part a bottle neck with the aperture.

[0068] Such stopper 1 is made of a plastic material. In a non-limiting example, the stopper 1 is made of polypropylene (PP). The stopper 1 is made of one or several piece(s). A plastic stopper 1 is mainly obtained through a molding process. Other parts or elements of the stopper 1 can be created into the plastic piece(s) through a cutting or slitting step during the manufacturing process.

[0069] According to the invention, the stopper 1 comprises a closure shell 2. The closure shell 2 is located at a top part of the stopper 1.

[0070] The closure shell 2 can comprise a sealing mean, such as sealing lip(s) which downwardly extends relative to the top roof inside the stopper 1. Such sealing lip(s) are designed to cooperate with the top end of the peripheral wall of the bottle neck in order to tightly close the aperture.

[0071] The stopper 1 also comprises the tamper band 4. the tamper band 4 is located at a bottom part of the stopper 1, so under the closure shell 2.

[0072] Moreover, the tamper band 4 is separably connected to the closure shell 2 through at least a weakness line. Such weakness line is made of bridges, distributed around the closure shell 2 and the tamper band 4. Thus, the bridges link the closure shell 2 and the tamper band 4 together. The bridges are made when molding the stopper 1 or after molding through a cutting step.

[0073] The stopper 1 is of a screw type {e.g., a threaded closure). In order to engage the stopper 1 to seal the container, the bottle neck comprises an outer fixation feature, such as outer thread(s). For cooperation with the outer fixation feature of the bottle neck, the stopper 1 comprises corresponding inner features, such as inner thread(s). The inner thread(s) are arranged inside side walls of the stopper 1 and are dimensioned relating to the outer thread(s), so that the stopper 1 can be screwed on the bottle neck to seal the container and unscrewed for opening said container.

[0074] In order to easily unscrew the stopper 1, the closure shell 2 can comprise outward knurls. Such knurls extend vertically along the peripheral wall of the closure shell 2. The knurls are also used to engage the stopper 1 on the bottle neck when sealing the container.

[0075] The tamper band 4 has an upper portion and a lower edge. The upper portion is linked to the closure shell 2 through the weakness line. Moreover, the lower edge comprises a plurality of tabs 6. Such tabs 6 are designed to be secured under a ring of the bottle neck. The tabs 6 are interrupted, so that linked tabs 6 are at least partially separated from each other. The tabs 6 or groups of linked tabs 6 are individually molded during the molding process of the stopper 1. Advantageously, no slitting or cutting as a secondary operation is needed.

[0076] As aforementioned, the tabs 6 are designed to cooperate with an outer annular ring outwardly managed on the peripheral wall of the bottle neck. Moreover, during fabrication process, the stopper 1 can have tabs 6 that extend along an inner radial direction, especially along a horizontal or almost horizontal plane. Usually, due to the stopper 1 fabrication process by molding, when the stopper 1 is released from a central core of a mold, the tabs 6 downwardly extend relative to the tamper band 4. Then, the tabs 6 must be reverted by folding inside the stopper 1 , from bottom to top, to get into an inward position relative to the tamper band 4, where the tabs 6 can cooperate with the bottle neck outer annular ring when the stopper 1 is engaged to seal the container.

[0077] Once the tabs 6 are in the inward position, the stopper 1 is placed on the container neck in order to seal its aperture by screwing the stopper 1 on the bottle neck. Such sealing operation includes a step when the tamper band 4 and the tabs 6 must go from top to bottom through the outer annular ring of the neck. During the passage of the ring, the tabs 6 are pushed outwardly until they are blocked against the inner wall of the tamper band 4, the tabs 6 being folded around the bottom junction with the tamper band 4. Then, when going under the ring, the tabs 6 elastically come back and secure the stopper 1 on the bottle neck.

[0078] Then, as the tabs 6 are locked under the ring, when opening by unscrewing the stopper 1 , the tamper band 4 remains on the bottle neck and only the closure shell 2 is moved up. During unscrewing, the bridges of the weakness line are torn apart from the closure shell 2 until they break and the closure shell 2 can be moved relative to the tamper band 4 secured on the bottle neck. Moreover, the tabs 6 are distributed around the tamper band 4, regularly or not.

[0079] According to an embodiment, the stopper 1 is made of a plastic material, such as Polyethylene (PE), but especially such as polypropylene (PP) which is a stronger material suitable for stoppers 1 with separated tabs 6 in order to withhold the folded position of the interrupted tabs 6.

[0080] When folded inside the stopper 1 , the tabs 6 make an interrupted annular securing means of the tamper band 4 on the bottle neck.

[0081] In some embodiments, the number of tabs 6 can vary depending on the size of the stopper 1 , relative to the dimensions of the bottle neck to be sealed. Thus, to accommodate a folding operation of the tamper band 4, the tabs 6 can have a geometrical square shape, upon an appropriate lateral spacing. The tabs 6 can be rectangular or trapezoidal, convergent or divergent regarding a radial direction relative to the stopper 1.

[0082] According to a preferred embodiment, the tabs 6 have trapezoidal shape, which is convergent along a radial direction from the tamper band 4 to a distal end of each of the plurality of tabs 6, in order to be folded from the outward position to the inward position inside the stopper 1. In various embodiments, the shape of the tabs and / or the shape of the gaps between the tabs can be trapezoidal, triangular, rectangular, or other shape to accommodate folding.

[0083] Tabs 6 have a distal end at a free end, located opposite the junction with the tamper band 4. Moreover, the tab 6 is narrows inside the stopper 1 (i.e. the distal end has a smaller width than the width of the junction with the tamper band 4).

[0084] The position of the distal end of tabs 6 is determined as “front”, while the junction with the tamper band 4 is determined as “rear” or “back”. So, relative to the front position, the tab 6 comprises a top surface 60 and an opposite bottom surface 62. The top surface 60 is orientated on the side of an inner wall of the tamper band 4.

[0085] Likewise, the tab 6 comprises a distal wall 64 linking the top surface 60 and the bottom surface 62 at the distal end. Moreover, the distal wall 64 is so dimensioned to engage under the ring of the bottle neck. In other words, the surface of the distal wall 64 is designed to get into contact with the lower surface of the ring of the bottle neck.

[0086] In some embodiments, as the tabs 6 are interrupted, the stopper 1 comprises a connection between some of the tabs 6 which are adjacent, in order to reinforce their resistance, so that they are not folded back or they do not revert back after opening. Therefore, at least two adjacent tabs 6 are connected together with at least a link 8.

[0087] According to an embodiment, the tabs 6 are linked two by two, so to manage interrupted pairs of tabs 6. Such an embodiment is visible in figure 1 and figure 2.

[0088] According to an embodiment, the tabs 6 are linked three by three.

[0089] According to an embodiment, a half of the tabs 6 are linked together and another half of the tabs 6 are linked together such that the tabs 6 are separated or interrupted in two halves.

[0090] According to an embodiment, all of the tabs 6 are linked together.

[0091] Moreover, according to the invention, the link 8 extends from a lateral wall 66 of one of the at least two of the tabs 6, to the corresponding opposite lateral wall 68 of the other of the at least two of the tabs 6.

[0092] According to embodiments, the width of the link 8 (i.e. the thickness along the radial direction) is less than the length of the tabs 6 along the radial direction, so that the link 8 extends only along a part of the lateral walls 66,68 of the two connected adjacent tabs 6.

[0093] Regarding the length of the tabs 6, the link 8 can be located at different positions, along the tabs 6, from the distal end to the junction with the tamper band 4.

[0094] Therefore, according to an embodiment, as each of the at least two the tabs 6 comprises a distal wall 64 at the distal end, the link 8 extends in the continuity of the distal walls of the at least two tabs 6. In other words, the inner face of the link 8 is aligned or almost aligned with the distal wall 64 of the distal end of the tabs 6.

[0095] Figures 1 to 3 show such and aligned link 8, which is also visible in Figure 13.

[0096] According to another embodiment, the link 8 extends between the distal end and the tamper band 4, between the lateral walls 66,68 of the at least two tabs 6. Figures 4 and 14 show a link 8 near the distal end, but located inside the gap between pairs of tabs 6, relative to the radial direction (i.e. the link 8 is set back regarding the distal wall 64).

[0097] Figures 1-3 show a continuous link between adjacent linked tabs, such that connected tabs are separated by a rectangular, divergent trapezoidal, or triangular gap.

[0098] Regarding the thickness of the tabs 6, the link 8 can be located at different height positions, closer to the top surface 60 or the bottom surface 62 or even between them. Figures 5-12 show that the link can be thinner than the tabs {e.g., about half or less the thickness of the tabs from the top to bottom).

[0099] Therefore, according to an embodiment, as each of the two tabs 6 comprises a top surface 60, the link extends in the continuity along the top surfaces 60 of the at least two tabs 6. Figure 5 shows a front view of two tabs with a top aligned link 8 between each other.

[0100] According to another embodiment, as the at least two tabs 6 comprises a bottom surface 62, the link 8 extends in the continuity along the bottom surfaces 62 of the at least two tabs 6. Figure 8 especially shows a front view of two tabs 6 with a bottom aligned link 8 between each other.

[0101] According to another embodiment, the link extends 6 in a middle area of the distal walls 66,68 of each of the two tabs 8. Figure 6 shows a link 8 closer to the top surface 66, while figure 7 shows a link 8 close to the bottom surface 68.

[0102] According to different embodiments, the link 8 can be straight or curved, linear or made of several segments, and / or concave or convex. The link 8 can also be parallel to the top surface 60 and / or parallel to the bottom surface 62, and / or relative to the distal wall 64, or inclined relative to the top surface 60 and / or the bottom surface 62, and / or relative to the distal wall 64.

[0103] As examples, figure 9 shows a concave curved link 8, extending between two tabs 6, while figure 10 shows a convex round link 8, extending inwardly relative to the distal wall 64.

[0104] According to an embodiment, the link 8 is entirely located between the at least two tabs 6, so inside the gap between the tabs 6. Figure 16 shows a concave round shape link 8, while figure 17 shows a concave inverted V shape link 8.

[0105] According to another embodiment, the link 8 is protruding regarding the distal walls 64 of the at least two tabs 6 relative to the radial direction.

[0106] Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment, the link 8 has a convex shape. The convex shape of the link 8 can be curved, such as visible in figure 15, or especially made of at least two straight segments.

[0107] According to a preferred embodiment, as the link 8 has a convex shape, the convex shape of the link 8 is V shaped with a tip 80 extending inside the stopper 1 relative to the radial direction. In other words, the link 8 inwardly extends further than the distal end of the tabs 6.

[0108] Figure 18 shows a V shaped link 8 with an inward tip 80. Such a V shape allows a geometrical deformation of the link 8, instead of a stretching of the plastic material, when the tabs 6 are folded inside the stopper 1, when the stopper 1 is ejected out of the core during molding process. The length of the V shape is proportionate to the length of the tabs as well as the width of the tabs and the radial distance if the links between tabs. The V shape confers a maximum length of the link 8 into the unfolded position after molding, to be folded at the junction of the segments when reversing the tabs 6 inside the stopper 1 , and finally to come back due to elasticity of the material once the tabs 6 are folded inside the stopper 1. So, such V shape avoids breaking of the link 8. Moreover, the tip 80 of the V shape link 8 comes into contact with the outer ring of the tamper band 4, increasing the contact force between the tabs 6, especially when unscrewing the stopper 1 for unsealing the container.

[0109] According to different embodiments, the link 8 extends over or under the at least two tabs 6. According to a particular embodiment, as the link 8 has a convex shape, the link 8 extends above the top surface 60 of the at least two tabs 6. Figure 11 shows an upward link 8 having an inverted V shape.

[0110] According to another embodiment, as the link 8 has a convex shape, the link 8 extends under the bottom surface 62 of the at least two tabs 6. Figure 12 shows a downward link 8 having a V shape.

[0111] As shown in Figures 13-18, the link can have a width less than that of the tabs, thereby forming a strap-like shape in the proximal-distal direction.

[0112] Aspects of the Disclosure

[0113] The present disclosure will be better understood upon reading the following numbered aspects, which should not be confused with the claims. Any of the numbered aspects below can, in some instances, be combined with aspects described elsewhere in this disclosure and such combinations are intended to form part of the disclosure.

[0114] Aspect 1. A plastic stopper of a screw type, comprising a closure shell and a tamper band, wherein the tamper band is separably connected to the closure shell through at least a weakness line, the tamper band having an upper portion and a lower edge, the lower edge comprising a plurality of interrupted tabs to be secured under a ring of a bottle neck, wherein each of the plurality of tabs extends along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal end of each of said tab; and wherein at least two adjacent tabs are connected together with at least a link.

[0115] Aspect 2. The plastic stopper according to aspect 1 , wherein the link extends between lateral walls of the at least two adjacent tabs.

[0116] Aspect 3. The plastic stopper according to aspects 1 or 2, wherein the tabs are linked two by two, forming interrupted pairs of tabs. Aspect 4. The plastic stopper according to aspects 1 or 2, wherein the tabs are linked three by three.

[0117] Aspect 5. The plastic stopper according to aspects 1 or 2, wherein a half of the tabs are linked together and another half of the tabs are linked together.

[0118] Aspect 6. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein each of the tabs comprises a distal wall at the distal end, the link extending in continuity with the distal walls of the at least two adjacent tabs.

[0119] Aspect 7. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link extends between the distal end and the tamper band, between lateral walls of the at least two adjacent tabs.

[0120] Aspect 8. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein each of the two tabs comprises a top surface, the link extending in continuity along the top surfaces of the at least two tabs.

[0121] Aspect 9. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the at least two tabs comprises a bottom surface, the link extending in continuity along the bottom surfaces of the at least two tabs.

[0122] Aspect 10. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link extends in a middle area of the distal end of each of the two tabs.

[0123] Aspect 11. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link extends inside the stopper relative to the distal end of the at least two tabs relative to the radial direction.

[0124] Aspect 12. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link has a concave shape.

[0125] Aspect 13. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link has a convex shape.

[0126] Aspect 14. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link has a convex shape, and the convex shape of the link is curved.

[0127] Aspect 15. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link has a convex shape, and the convex shape of the link comprises at least two straight segments.

[0128] Aspect 16. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link has a convex shape, and the convex shape of the link is V shaped with a tip extending inside the stopper relative to the radial direction.

[0129] Aspect 17. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link has a convex shape, and the link extends above a top surface of the at least two tabs. Aspect 18. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the link has a convex shape, and the link extends under a bottom surface of the at least two tabs.

[0130] Aspect 19. The plastic stopper according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein each of the tabs has a trapezoidal shape, wherein the trapezoidal shape is distally convergent.

Claims

ClaimsThe invention claimed is:

1. A plastic stopper of a screw type, comprising: a closure shell and a tamper band, wherein the tamper band is separably connected to the closure shell through at least a weakness line, the tamper band having an upper portion and a lower edge, the lower edge comprising a plurality of interrupted tabs to be secured under a ring of a bottle neck, wherein each of the plurality of tabs extends along a radial direction from the tamper band to a distal end of each of said tab; and wherein at least two adjacent tabs are connected together with at least a link.

2. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the link extends between lateral walls of the at least two adjacent tabs.

3. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the tabs are linked two by two, forming interrupted pairs of tabs.

4. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the tabs are linked three by three.

5. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein a half of the tabs are linked together and another half of the tabs are linked together.

6. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein each of the tabs comprises a distal wall at the distal end, the link extending in continuity with the distal walls of the at least two adjacent tabs.

7. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the link extends between the distal end and the tamper band, between lateral walls of the at least two tabs.

8. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two tabs comprises a top surface, the link extending in continuity along the top surfaces of the at least two tabs.

9. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two tabs comprises a bottom surface, the link extending in continuity along the bottom surfaces of the at least two tabs.

10. The plastic stopper according to claim 1, wherein the link extends in a middle area of the distal end of each of the two tabs.

11. The plastic stopper according to claim 1, wherein the link extends inside the stopper relative to the distal end of the at least two tabs relative to the radial direction.

12. The plastic stopper according to claim 1, wherein the link has a concave shape.

13. The plastic stopper according to claim 1, wherein the link has a convex shape.

14. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the link has a convex shape, and the convex shape of the link is curved.

15. The plastic stopper according to claim 1, wherein the link has a convex shape, and the convex shape of the link comprises at least two straight segments.

16. The plastic stopper according to claim 1, wherein the link has a convex shape, and the convex shape of the link is V shaped with a tip extending inside the stopper relative to the radial direction.

17. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the link has a convex shape, and the link extends above a top surface of the at least two tabs.

18. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the link has a convex shape, and the link extends under a bottom surface of the at least two tabs.

19. The plastic stopper according to claim 1 , wherein each of the tabs has a trapezoidal shape, wherein the trapezoidal shape is distally convergent.

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