Screw on dispensing closure with structure for preventing removal

Abstract

A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container includes a closure main body that is adapted to be screwed on to a container and that has a top portion in which an orifice is defined for dispensing a substance from the container and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on which at least one interior thread is defined for engaging threading on the container. The closure further includes a lid member that is hingedly mounted to the closure main body for movement between a first closed position in which the lid member covers the orifice and an open position wherein the orifice is uncovered by the lid member. Advantageously, retention structure is provided on the closure main body for engaging the container in such a manner as to frustrate efforts that may be made to unscrew the closure from the container after the closure has been first screwed on to the container.

1 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container, comprising: 
 a closure main body that is adapted to be screwed on to a container, said closure main body having a top portion in which an orifice is defined for dispensing a substance from the container and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on which at least one interior thread is defined for engaging threading on the container;    a lid member that is hingedly mounted to said closure main body for movement between a first closed position wherein said lid member covers said orifice and an open position wherein said orifice is uncovered by said lid member; and    tamper evident locking structure for retaining said lid member on said closure main body until the closure is first opened by the consumer.    
   
   
       2 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein said tamper evident locking structure comprises a tamper evident band that is removably mounted to said main body, and locking means on said lid for engaging said tamper evident band.  
   
   
       3 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to  claim 2 , wherein said tamper evident band is frangibly mounted to said main body.  
   
   
       4 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to  claim 3 , wherein said tamper evident band is frangibly mounted to said main body by a plurality of frangible bridges.  
   
   
       5 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to  claim 2 , wherein said tamper evident band comprises a gripping tab.  
   
   
       6 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to  claim 2 , wherein said locking means is constructed and arranged to contact a lower surface of said tamper evident band.  
   
   
       7 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to  claim 2 , wherein said locking means comprises at least one locking tooth for engaging said tamper evident band.  
   
   
       8 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to  claim 2 , wherein said locking means comprises a plurality of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       9 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container according to  claim 2 , wherein said tamper evident band is integrally molded with said closure main body and said lid member.  
   
   
       10 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure is fabricated from a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       11 . A container assembly, comprising: 
 a container having a threaded finish portion; and    a closure, said closure comprising 
 a closure main body having a top portion in which an orifice is defined for dispensing a substance from the container and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on which said internal threading is defined, said internal threading being screwed on to said threaded finish portion of said container;  
 a lid member that is hingedly mounted to said closure main body for movement between a first closed position wherein said lid member covers said orifice and an open position wherein said orifice is uncovered by said lid member; and  
 tamper evident locking structure for retaining said lid member on said closure main body until the closure is first opened by the consumer.  
   
   
   
       12 . A container assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said tamper evident locking structure comprises a tamper evident band that is removably mounted to said main body, and locking means on said lid for engaging said tamper evident band.  
   
   
       13 . A container assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said tamper evident band is frangibly mounted to said main body.  
   
   
       14 . A container assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said tamper evident band is frangibly mounted to said main body by a plurality of frangible bridges.  
   
   
       15 . A container assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said tamper evident band comprises a gripping tab.  
   
   
       16 . A container assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said locking means is constructed and arranged to contact a lower surface of said tamper evident band.  
   
   
       17 . A container assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said locking means comprises at least one locking tooth for engaging said tamper evident band.  
   
   
       18 . A container assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said locking means comprises a plurality of said locking teeth.  
   
   
       19 . A container assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said tamper evident band is integrally molded with said closure main body and said lid member.  
   
   
       20 . A container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure is fabricated from a polypropylene material.