WO1995035245B1

WO1995035245B1 - Hinged tamper-evidencing closure

Info

Publication number: WO1995035245B1
Application number: PCT/US1995/007775
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1995-06-19
Publication date: 1996-02-01

Abstract

An all-plastic, hinged, tamper-evidencing closure (10) includes an upper closure surface or top (12) with a hinge (18) formed therein. The hinge (18) may be a straight line, or curved or arcuate so as to provide a snap-action for opening and closing. The closure (10) includes a peripherally depending skirt (14) which has structure for removably retaining the closure (10) on a container (30), such as a snap head or threads (32). Additionally, the skirt (14) includes tamper-evidencing structure (20). The closure top surface (12) may be planar, concave or convex, or it may be initially planar, but when subject to vacuum or pressure it becomes concave or convex, respectively. This latter feature provides a visual indicator that the vacuum seal or pressure seal of the container (30) is intact.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 5 January 1996 (05.01.96);

original claims 2-10, 12-13, 16, 18-22, 25-30, 32, 34-39 and 41 cancelled;

original claims 1, 17, 24, 31, 33 and 40 amended; remaining claims unchanged (6 pages)]

1. A plastic, tamper-evidencing closure for containers, comprising:

a circular and substantially planar upper closure surface having a hinge to permit flexing a portion of said closure about said hinge for opening and closing said closure, said hinge bisects said planar upper surface along a curved line within the plane of said planar upper surface, so as to provide a snap-open, spring-closed hinge action; and

a peripheral skirt depending from said upper closure surface, said skirt including means for retaining said closure on a container and further including tamper evidencing means which is perceptibly disturbed upon first opening of said closure to indicate tampering.

11. The closure of claim 1 wherein said upper closure surface is convex and said hinge follows an arcuate line, so as to provide a snap-open, spring-closed hinge action.

14. The closure of claim 1 wherein said tamper evidencing means comprises a removable tear strip section in said skin.

15. The closure of claim 1 wherein said tamper evidencing means comprises frangible members in a portion of said skin.

17. A plastic, tamper-evident closure for containers, comprising: a generally circular, convex upper closure surface having an arcuate hinge which bisects said surface to permit flexing a portion of said closure about said hinge so as to provide a snap-open, spring-closed hinge action; and

a peripheral skirt depending downwardly from said upper closure surface, said skirt including means for retaining said closure on a container and further including tamper evidencing means which is perceptibly disturbed upon first opening of said closure to indicate tampering.

23. A plastic, tamper-evidencing closure for a container, comprising:

a top,

an annular skirt depending from said top,

closure securing means on an inside surface of said skin, said skin having two circumferentially spaced lines of weakness, said lines of weakness extending generally parallel to a central axis of said closure, and

a hinge across said top extending from a point adjacent one of said lines of weakness to a point adjacent the other of said lines of weakness, said closure securing means in use on a container permitting one portion of said closure on one side of said hinge to be swung to an open position, while retaining the remaining portion of said closure on another side of said hinge seated on the container,

said lines of weakness being adapted to be broken when said one portion of said closure is first swung about said hinge,

said hinge being arcuate and acting as an over-center hinge, such that said hinge retains said one portion of said closure altemarively in an open or closed position.

24. A plastic, tamper-evidencing closure for a container.

comprising:

a top,

an annular skirt depending from said top and having tamper- evidencing means associated therewith;

closure securing means on an inside surface of said skirt, a hinge extending across said top, said hinge being adapted to permit a first portion of said top to be swung to an open position relative to a second portion of said top when said closure is in place on a container,

deformable webs in said skin adjacent each end of said hinge, said webs being adapted to be deformed upon opening said closure,

said top being generally planar initially and being specifically adapted to enhance the deformation of said top to a concave shape when subjected to a vacuum, whereby said binge becomes arcuate and provides a snap action.

31. The closure of claim 24 wherein said tamper-evidencing means comprises a removable tear strip section in said skin.

33. A plastic, tamper-evidencing closure for a container, comprising:

a top,

an annular skirt depending from said top and having tamper evidencing means associated therewith;

closure securing means on an inside surface of said skin, a hinge extending across said top, said hinge being adapted to permit a first portion of said top to be swung to an open position relative to a second portion of said top when said closure is in place on a container,

said top being generally planar initially and being specifically adapted to enhance the deformation of said top to a convex shape when subjected to pressure, whereby said hinge becomes arcuate and provides a snap action.

40. The closure of claim 33 wherein said tamper-evidencmg means comprises a removable tear strip section in said skin.

42. A plastic, tamper-evidencing closure for containers, comprising:

a top;

an annular skirt depending from said top;

closure securing means on an inside surface of said skin; a circumferential tab member extending outwardly from said skirt to facilitate opening said closure;

a first hinge extending across said top, said hinge being adapted to permit a first portion of said top to be swung to an open position relative to a second portion of said top when said closure is in place on a container;

deformable webs in said skirt adjacent each end of said first hinge, said webs being adapted to be deformed upon opening said closure;

a second hinge associated with said peripheral tab, said second hinge providing a snap-open, spring-closed hinge action in cooperation with said first hinge.