Tamper-Evident Closure

Abstract

A closure comprises the unitarily molded single-piece combination of: a base for mounting to a container body; a living hinge; and a cover coupled by the living hinge to the base and shiftable between a closed orientation and an open orientation via rotation about the living hinge. A tamper-evident feature comprises: a tab connected to one of the cover and base by a second living hinge and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion separated from the proximal portion by a pre-defined rupture zone in a pre-rupture condition and having a first engagement feature; and a second engagement feature on the other of the base and the cover positioned to engage the first engagement feature in the closed orientation and pre-rupture condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure ( 220 ) comprising the unitarily molded single-piece combination of:
 a base ( 224 ) for mounting to a container body;   a living hinge ( 222 ); and   a cover ( 226 ) coupled by the living hinge to the base and shiftable between a closed orientation and an open orientation via rotation about the living hinge, wherein a tamper-evident feature comprises:   a tab ( 250 ) connected to one of the cover and base by a second living hinge ( 266 ) and having a proximal portion ( 262 ) and a distal portion ( 264 ), the distal portion separated from the proximal portion by a pre-defined rupture zone ( 272 ) in a pre-rupture condition and having a first engagement feature ( 280 ); and   a second engagement feature ( 300 ,  310 ) on the other of the base and the cover positioned to engage the first engagement feature in the closed orientation and pre-rupture condition.   
     
     
         2 . The closure ( 200 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second engagement feature comprises a recess ( 310 ) in a wall ( 300 ) capturing the distal portion in the closed orientation and pre-rupture condition. 
 
     
     
         3 . The closure ( 200 ) of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first engagement feature comprises the combination of lateral barbs ( 280 ) and a proximal edge of the distal portion. 
 
     
     
         4 . The closure ( 200 ) of  claim 2  wherein:
 the wall is spaced outward of a main sidewall of the other of the base and the cover. 
 
     
     
         5 . The closure ( 200 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 the one of the base and the cover is the base; and 
 the other of the base and the cover is the cover. 
 
     
     
         6 . The closure ( 200 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 the one of the base and the cover has means ( 284 ,  286 ) for stowing the proximal portion in a post-rupture condition. 
 
     
     
         7 . The closure ( 200 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 the other of the base and the cover has tamper-evident indicia ( 313 ) concealed by the proximal portion in the pre-rupture closed condition and exposed in the post-rupture condition. 
 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein:
 the cap, in the closed condition, surrounds and covers an upper rim portion of the base and has a detented engagement therewith. 
 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein:
 closure is molded of polypropylene. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method for using the closure of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 with the closure mounted to the container body, opening the closure from the closed orientation to the open orientation, the opening including severing the distal portion from the proximal portion while leaving the distal portion attached to said other of the base and the cover.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein:
 the opening causes the proximal portion to relax to an outwardly protruding orientation. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 bending the proximal portion to a stowed condition to lock the proximal portion in the stowed condition. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 closing the closure with the proximal portion in the stowed condition so that the proximal portion falls inboard of the second engagement feature. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for using the closure of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 closing the closure from an as-molded condition to an initial closed orientation;   shifting the tab to engage the first engagement feature to the second engagement feature.