초록 ▼

A container and closure combination according to one embodiment of the present invention includes, as part of the closure, a tamper-evident band. The container includes a neck portion defining a dispensing opening and including an A diameter stop. The tamper-evident closure includes a closure body a

A container and closure combination according to one embodiment of the present invention includes, as part of the closure, a tamper-evident band. The container includes a neck portion defining a dispensing opening and including an A diameter stop. The tamper-evident closure includes a closure body and the tamper-evident band is connected to the closure body by a plurality of frangible elements. A plurality of locking tabs are included as part of the tamper-evident band and are constructed and arranged to abut up against the A diameter stop upon retrograde rotation of the closure body from the container neck. The tamper-evident band further includes a radially inwardly extending ridge that is constructed and arranged to prevent repositioning of a plurality of the locking tabs to an orientation wherein the plurality of locking tabs would avoid abutment with the A diameter stop.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A tamper-evident closure for a container having an A diameter stop, said tamper-evident closure comprising: a closure body; and a tamper-evident band connected to said closure body by a plurality of frangible elements, said tamper-evident band including a plurality of locking

What is claimed is: 1. A tamper-evident closure for a container having an A diameter stop, said tamper-evident closure comprising: a closure body; and a tamper-evident band connected to said closure body by a plurality of frangible elements, said tamper-evident band including a plurality of locking tabs constructed and arranged to abut against said A diameter stop during initial removal of said closure from said container, each locking tab being constructed and arranged with a radially-inward first portion having a free end and an intermediate second portion located between said first portion and the remainder of said tamper-evident band, said first portion being enlarged relative to said second portion and said second portion having a reduced axial thickness relative to said first portion, said tamper-evident band further including a radially inwardly extending ridge that is constructed and arranged to prevent repositioning of a plurality of said locking tabs to an orientation wherein said plurality of locking tabs avoid abutment with said A diameter stop. 2. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1 wherein said ridge is arranged into a plurality of spaced-apart sections. 3. The tamper-evident closure of claim 2 wherein each section of said ridge includes an inclined upper surface. 4. The tamper-evident closure of claim 3 wherein said locking tabs are positioned axially between said frangible elements and said ridge. 5. The tamper-evident closure of claim 4 wherein said closure body is internally threaded. 6. The tamper-evident closure of claim 1 wherein said ridge is constructed and arranged as an annular member. 7. The tamper-evident closure of claim 6 wherein said ridge includes an inclined upper surface facing said plurality of locking tabs. 8. The tamper-evident closure of claim 7 wherein said locking tabs are positioned axially between said frangible elements and said ridge. 9. The tamper-evident closure of claim 8 wherein said closure body is internally threaded. 10. In combination: a container having a neck portion defining a dispensing opening and an A diameter stop; and a tamper-evident closure for said container, said tamper-evident closure comprising: a closure body; and a tamper-evident band connected to said closure body by a plurality of frangible elements, said tamper-evident band including a plurality of locking tabs constructed and arranged to abut against said A diameter stop during initial removal of said closure from said container, each locking tab being constructed and arranged with a radially-inward first portion having a free end and an intermediate second portion located between said first portion and the remainder of said tamper-evident band, said first portion being enlarged relative to said second portion and said second portion having a reduced axial thickness relative to said first portion, said tamper-evident band further including a radially inwardly extending ridge that is constructed and arranged to prevent repositioning of a plurality of said locking tabs to an orientation wherein said plurality of locking tabs avoid abutment with said A diameter stop. 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said ridge is arranged into a plurality of spaced-apart sections. 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein each section of said ridge includes an inclined upper surface. 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said locking tabs are positioned axially between said frangible elements and said ridge. 14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said closure body is internally threaded. 15. The combination of claim 10 wherein said ridge is constructed and arranged as an annular member. 16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said ridge includes an inclined upper surface facing said plurality of locking tabs. 17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said locking tabs are positioned axially between said frangible elements and said ridge. 18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said closure body is internally threaded. 19. A tamper-evident closure for a container having an A diameter stop, said tamper-evident closure comprising: a closure body; and a tamper-evident band connected to said closure body by a plurality of frangible elements, said tamper-evident band including a plurality of locking tabs constructed and arranged to abut said A diameter stop during initial removal of said closure from said container, each locking tab being constructed and arranged with a radially-inward first portion having a free end and an intermediate second portion located between said first portion and the remainder of said tamper-evident band, said first portion being enlarged relative to said second portion and said second portion having a reduced axial thickness relative to said first portion, said tamper-evident band further including a radially inwardly extending ridge that is constructed and arranged to prevent repositioning of a plurality of said locking tabs to a substantially vertical orientation wherein said plurality of locking tabs avoid abutment with said A diameter stop. 20. The tamper-evident closure of claim 19 wherein said ridge is arranged into a plurality of spaced-apart sections. 21. The tamper-evident closure of claim 20 wherein each section of said ridge includes an inclined upper surface. 22. The tamper-evident closure of claim 21 wherein said locking tabs are positioned axially between said frangible elements and said ridge. 23. The tamper-evident closure of claim 22 wherein said closure body is internally threaded. 24. The tamper-evident closure of claim 19 wherein said ridge is constructed and arranged as an annular member. 25. The tamper-evident closure of claim 24 wherein said ridge includes an inclined upper surface facing said plurality of locking tabs. 26. The tamper-evident closure of claim 25 wherein said locking tabs are positioned axially between said frangible elements and said ridge. 27. The tamper-evident closure of claim 26 wherein said closure body is internally threaded. 28. In combination: a container having a neck portion defining a dispensing opening and an A diameter stop; and a tamper-evident closure for said container, said tamper-evident closure comprising: a closure body; and a tamper-evident band connected to said closure body by a plurality of frangible elements, said tamper-evident band including a plurality of locking tabs constructed and arranged to abut against said A diameter stop during initial removal of said closure from said container, each locking tab being constructed and arranged with a radially-inward first portion having a free end and an intermediate second portion located between said first portion and the remainder of said tamper-evident band, said first portion being enlarged relative to said second portion and said second portion having a reduced axial thickness relative to said first portion, said tamper-evident band further including a radially inwardly extending ridge that is constructed and arranged to prevent repositioning of a plurality of said locking tabs to a substantially vertical orientation wherein said plurality of locking tabs avoid abutment with said A diameter stop. 29. The combination of claim 28 wherein said ridge is arranged into a plurality of spaced-apart sections. 30. The combination of claim 29 wherein each section of said ridge includes an inclined upper surface. 31. The combination of claim 30 wherein said locking tabs are positioned axially between said frangible elements and said ridge. 32. The combination of claim 31 wherein said closure body is internally threaded. 33. The combination of claim 28 wherein said ridge is constructed and arranged as an annular member. 34. The combination of claim 33 wherein said ridge includes an inclined upper surface facing said plurality of locking tabs. 35. The combination of claim 34 wherein said locking tabs are positioned axially between said frangible elements and said ridge. 36. The combination of claim 35 wherein said closure body is internally threaded.