Tamper-evident closure

Abstract

A unitary, tamper-evident closure for use on the threaded neck of a container includes a molded plastic closure body having a series of internal threads, an annular, tamper-evident band constructed and arranged out of a suitable plastic for being ultrasonically welded to a portion of the container, a plurality of frangible elements constructed and arranged out of a suitable plastic for connecting the tamper-evident band to the closure body at a plurality of spaced-apart locations, and wherein the tamper-evident band is free of any undercut beads and the sole structural connection of the tamper-evident band to the container is by means of ultrasonic welding.

1 . A unitary, tamper-evident closure for use on the threaded neck of a container, said tamper-evident closure comprising: 
 a closure body having a series of threads formed on an inner surface;    an annular, tamper-evident band constructed and arranged for being ultrasonically welded to a portion of said container;    a plurality of frangible elements constructed and arranged for connecting said tamper-evident band to said closure body at a plurality of spaced-apart locations; and    wherein said tamper-evident band being free of any undercut beads and the sole structural connection of said tamper-evident band to said container is by means of ultrasonic welding.    
   
   
       2 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 1  wherein said tamper-evident band having a generally cylindrical inner surface, at least a portion of said inner surface being constructed and arranged for being ultrasonically welded to said container.  
   
   
       3 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 2  wherein said closure body is spaced-apart from said tamper-evident band by a defined annular gap, said plurality of frangible elements extending axially across said defined annular gap.  
   
   
       4 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 3  wherein said closure body has a hexagonal form.  
   
   
       5 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 3  wherein said closure body has a generally cylindrical form with a plurality of axially-extending ribs formed on an outer surface of said closure body.  
   
   
       6 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 1  wherein said closure body has a hexagonal form.  
   
   
       7 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 1  wherein said closure body has a generally cylindrical form with a plurality of axially-extending ribs formed on an outer surface of said closure body.  
   
   
       8 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 1  wherein said tamper-evident band having an inner surface that includes a plurality of energy-directing ribs for use as part of said ultrasonic welding.  
   
   
       9 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 8  wherein one portion of each energy-directing rib extending into and being molded as a part of said closure body.  
   
   
       10 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 9  wherein said tamper-evident closure defines a separation gap positioned between said closure body and said tamper-evident band, another portion of each energy-directing rib spanning said separation gap.  
   
   
       11 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 10  wherein said closure body has a hexagonal form.  
   
   
       12 . The unitary, tamper-evident closure of  claim 10  wherein said closure body has a generally cylindrical form with a plurality of axially-extending ribs formed on an outer surface of said closure body.  
   
   
       13 . In combination: 
 a container having an externally-threaded neck; and    a unitary, tamper-evident closure for use on the threaded neck of said container, said tamper-evident closure comprising:    a closure body having a series of threads formed on an inner surface;    an annular, tamper-evident band constructed and arranged for being ultrasonically welded to a portion of said container;    a plurality of frangible elements constructed and arranged for connecting said tamper-evident band to said closure body at a plurality of spaced-apart locations; and    wherein said tamper-evident band being free of any undercut beads and the sole structural connection of said tamper-evident band to said container is by means of ultrasonic welding.    
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein said tamper-evident band having a generally cylindrical inner surface, at least a portion of said inner surface being constructed and arranged for being ultrasonically welded to said container.  
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein said closure body is spaced-apart from said tamper-evident band by a defined annular gap, said plurality of frangible elements extending axially across said defined annular gap.  
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein said closure body has a hexagonal form.  
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein said closure body has a generally cylindrical form with a plurality of axially-extending ribs formed on an outer surface of said closure body.  
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein said closure body has a hexagonal form.  
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein said closure body has a generally cylindrical form with a plurality of axially-extending ribs formed on an outer surface of said closure body.  
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein said tamper-evident band having an inner surface that includes a plurality of energy-directing ribs for use as part of said ultrasonic welding.  
   
   
       21 . The combination of  claim 20  wherein one portion of each energy-directing rib extending into and being molded as a part of said closure body.  
   
   
       22 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein said tamper-evident closure defines a separation gap positioned between said closure body and said tamper-evident band, another portion of each energy-directing rib spanning said separation gap.  
   
   
       23 . The combination of  claim 22  wherein said closure body has a hexagonal form.  
   
   
       24 . The combination of  claim 22  wherein said closure body has a generally cylindrical form with a plurality of axially-extending ribs formed on an outer surface of said closure body.  
   
   
       25 . A method of capping closed a container with a tamper-evident closure, said method comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing a container with a neck portion that is externally threaded;    (b) providing a tamper-evident closure having a tamper-evident band;    (c) threading said tamper-evident closure onto said container neck; and    (d) ultrasonically welding said tamper-evident band to said container.