Closure With Improved Tamper-Evident Band

Abstract

A tamper-indicating closure for use with a container having an annular locking ring located around a vertical axis of the container opening. The closure features a cap having a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion perpendicularly extending from the top wall. A continuous annular tamper-evident band is affixed to the skirt portion of the cap and is detachable from the cap. The band has a frustoconical retaining member hingedly connected to a bottom rim of the band. The retaining member has a plurality of ridges extending from the bottom rim of the band to a distal end of the retaining member. The ridges define a plurality of flutes formed therebetween. The retaining member is suitable for being folded up adjacent the band such that the external surface of the retaining member is suitable for engaging the locking ring of the container.

1 . A tamper-indicating closure for use with an associated container having an annular locking ring located around a vertical axis of the container, the closure comprising:
 a cap having a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion perpendicularly extending from the top wall, the skirt portion engageable with the container; and   a continuous annular tamper-evident band affixed to a bottom rim of the skirt and being detachably connected to the cap, the band having a substantially consistent radial cross-section along its circumferential length and a retaining member hingedly connected to a bottom rim of the band,   the retaining member having an initial frustoconical configuration along its length such that it has an increasingly smaller diameter as it extends away from the bottom rim of the band, the retaining member having a surface featuring a plurality of ridges extending along the retaining member from the bottom rim of the band to a distal end of the retaining member, the retaining member suitable for being folded up adjacent the band such that an external surface of the retaining member engages the locking ring of the container.   
   
   
       2 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 1  wherein the tamper-evident band is affixed to the bottom rim of the skirt by a plurality of bridge-like connectors, the connectors suitable for breaking when the closure is removed from an associated container. 
   
   
       3 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 1  wherein the skirt has an exterior surface having a plurality of tapered ribs extending from the cap of the closure towards the bottom rim of the skirt, the ribs having an arcuate shape curving inward as they extend away from the cap. 
   
   
       4 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 1  wherein the ridges are outwardly directed along the external surface of the retaining member, the ridges defining a plurality of flutes, each flute formed between adjacent ridges on the retaining member, the flutes circumferentially spaced to form a scalloped formation around the exterior surface of the retaining member. 
   
   
       5 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 1  wherein the retaining member comprises a singular annular body. 
   
   
       6 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 1  wherein the retaining member comprises from four to sixteen individual discrete segments, the segments spaced apart from one another around the annular tamper-evident band. 
   
   
       7 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 2  wherein the bridge-like connectors have a substantially constant thickness along their length and an identical cross-sectional area to one another. 
   
   
       8 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 2  wherein the bridge-like connectors are score-formed, and each connector is separated by a weakened region of the skirt. 
   
   
       9 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 4  wherein the retaining member has at least one flute having an arcuate shape in cross-section. 
   
   
       10 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 4  wherein the retaining member has at least one flute having a substantially v-shaped formation in cross-section, the v-shaped formation defined by side walls from two adjacent ridges. 
   
   
       11 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 4  wherein the retaining member has at least one flute having a substantially u-shaped formation in cross-section, the u-shaped formation defined by the exterior surface of the retaining member and side walls from two adjacent ridges. 
   
   
       12 . The tamper-indicating closure of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of ridges on the external surface of the retaining member have a substantially identical height and the flutes have a substantially identical depth. 
   
   
       13 . A tamper-evident band for use with an associated container and closure, the band comprising:
 a continuous annular ring adapted to being affixed to a bottom rim of the closure and being detachably connected to the closure, the annular ring having a substantially consistent radial cross-section along its circumferential length; and   a retaining member hingedly connected to a bottom rim of the annular ring, the retaining member having a frustoconical configuration such that it has an increasingly smaller diameter as it extends away from the bottom rim of the annular ring, the retaining member having an external surface featuring a plurality of outwardly directed ridges extending along the retaining member from the bottom rim of the annular ring to a distal end of the retaining member, the retaining member suitable for being folded up adjacent the band such that the external surface of the retaining member is suitable for engaging a locking ring located around the opening of the container.   
   
   
       14 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 13  wherein the associated container has a diameter area under the locking ring that is tapered outwardly. 
   
   
       15 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 13  wherein the annular ring is affixed to the bottom rim of the container closure by a plurality of bridge-like connectors, the connectors suitable for breaking when the closure is removed from an associated container. 
   
   
       16 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 13  wherein the ridges on the external surface of the retaining member define a plurality of flutes, each flute formed between adjacent ridges on the retaining member, the flutes circumferentially spaced to form a scalloped formation around the exterior surface of the retaining member 
   
   
       17 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 13  wherein the retaining member comprises a singular annular body. 
   
   
       18 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 13  wherein the retaining member comprises from four to sixteen individual discrete segments, the segments spaced apart from one another around the annular tamper-evident band. 
   
   
       19 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 15  wherein the bridge-like connectors have a substantially constant thickness along their length and an identical cross-sectional area to one another. 
   
   
       20 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 15  wherein the bridge-like connectors are score-formed such each connector is separated by a weakened region of the skirt. 
   
   
       21 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 16  wherein the retaining member has at least one flute having an arcuate shape in cross-section. 
   
   
       22 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 16  wherein the retaining member has at least one flute having a substantially v-shaped formation in cross-section, the v-shaped formation defined by side walls from two adjacent ridges. 
   
   
       23 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 16  wherein the retaining member has at least one flute having a substantially u-shaped formation in cross-section, the u-shaped formation defined by the exterior surface of the retaining member and side walls from two adjacent ridges. 
   
   
       24 . The tamper-evident band of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of ridges on the external surface of the retaining member have a substantially identical height and the flutes have a substantially identical dept 
   
   
       25 . A retaining member for a tamper-evident band suitable for use with an associated container, the retaining member comprising:
 a frustoconical body hingedly connected to a bottom rim of the band, the frustoconical body having an increasingly smaller diameter the farther the body extends away from the band, the frustoconical body having an external surface featuring a plurality of outwardly directed ridges extending along the body from the bottom rim of the band to a distal end of the body;   the retaining member suitable for being folded up adjacent the band such that the external surface of the body is suitable for engaging a locking ring of the associated container.   
   
   
       26 . The retaining member of  claim 25  wherein the ridges on the external surface of the frustoconical body define a plurality of flutes, each flute formed between adjacent ridges on the body, the flutes circumferentially spaced to form a scalloped formation around the exterior surface of the frustoconical body. 
   
   
       27 . The retaining member of  claim 26  wherein the frustoconical body has at least one flute having an arcuate shape in cross-section. 
   
   
       28 . The retaining member of  claim 26  wherein the frustoconical body has at least one flute having a substantially v-shaped formation in cross-section, the v-shaped formation defined by side walls from two adjacent ridges. 
   
   
       29 . The retaining member of  claim 26  wherein the frustoconical body has at least one flute having a substantially u-shaped formation in cross-section, the u-shaped formation defined by the exterior surface of the frustoconical body and side walls from two adjacent ridges. 
   
   
       30 . The retaining member of  claim 26  wherein the plurality of ridges on the external surface of the frustoconical body have a substantially identical height and the flutes have a substantially identical depth. 
   
   
       31 . The retaining member of  claim 26  wherein the frustoconical body comprises from four to sixteen individual discrete segments.