Tamper Evident Lid and Method of Making Same

Abstract

A tamper resistant, push-on closure member for a container. The closure has a top cylindrical band portion, a bottom cylindrical band portion and a top cover. The top band has a plurality of continuous annular ridges extending inwardly along the circumference of its inner surface for contacting the side surface of the container. The bottom band has plurality of rigid teeth extending from a lower peripheral margin of the bottom band in an upward and inward direction for locking engagement against the lip of the container. The plurality of teeth are connected to a lower peripheral margin of the top band by a plurality of projections for providing a visual tamper evident indication. A plurality of tooth channels positioned between the lower margin of the top band and the upper margin of the bottom band for facilitating the flow of plastic resin during the production of the plurality of teeth.

1 . A one piece tamper resistant push-on closure member for a container having an opening with a peripheral outwardly extending lip formation, the closure comprising:
 a top cover portion;   a top cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin extending from the top cover portion, and a lower peripheral margin;   a bottom cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin and a lower peripheral margin;   a rupturable line of weakness between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the upper peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion; and   a plurality of rigid teeth extending from the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion in an upward and inward direction for locking engagement against the lip of the container when the closure member is secured on the container;   the top cylindrical band portion having a plurality of continuous annular ridges extending inwardly along the circumference of an inner surface each of said ridges for contacting a side surface of the container in an interference fit.   
     
     
         2 . The closure member according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are connected to the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion by a plurality of projections for providing a visual tamper evident indication and for increasing the force of engagement of the plurality of teeth against the lip of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The closure member according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of tooth channels positioned between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the upper peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion for facilitating the flow of plastic resin during the production of the plurality of rigid teeth.   
     
     
         4 . The closure member according to  claims 1 , wherein a bottom of the plurality of teeth are connected to the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion by a plurality of inwardly extending projections for increasing the rigidity of the plurality of teeth and for increasing the force of engagement of the plurality of teeth against the lip of the container. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A one piece tamper resistant push-on closure member for a container having an opening with a peripheral outwardly extending lip formation, the closure comprising:
 a top cover portion;   a top cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin extending from the top cover portion, and a lower peripheral margin;   a bottom cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin and a lower peripheral margin;   a rupturable line of weakness between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the upper peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion;   a plurality of rigid teeth extending from the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion in an upward and inward direction for locking engagement against the lip of the container when the closure member is secured on the container; and   a plurality of tooth channels positioned between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the plurality of rigid teeth of the bottom cylindrical band portion for facilitating the flow of plastic resin during the production of the plurality of rigid teeth.   
     
     
         9 . The closure member according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of teeth are connected to the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion by a plurality of projections for providing a visual tamper evident indication and for increasing the force of engagement of the plurality of teeth against the lip of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The closure member according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the top cylindrical band portion has a plurality of continuous annular ridges extending inwardly along the circumference of an inner surface each of said ridges for contacting a side surface of the container in an interference fit.   
     
     
         11 . The closure member according to  claims 8 , wherein a bottom of the plurality of teeth are connected to the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion by a plurality of inwardly extending projections for increasing the rigidity of the plurality of teeth and for increasing the force of engagement of the plurality of teeth against the lip of the container. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A one piece tamper resistant push-on closure member for a container having an opening with a peripheral outwardly extending lip formation, the closure comprising:
 a top cover portion;   a top cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin extending from the top cover portion, and a lower peripheral margin;   a bottom cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin and a lower peripheral margin;   a rupturable line of weakness between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the upper peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion; and   a plurality of rigid teeth extending from the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion in an upward and inward direction for locking engagement against the lip of the container when the closure member secured on the container;   wherein lateral sides of the plurality of teeth are connected to the bottom cylindrical band portion by side walls for increasing the rigidity of the plurality of teeth and for increasing the force of engagement of the plurality of teeth against the lip of the container.   
     
     
         16 . The closure member according to  claim 15 , wherein the bottom of the plurality of teeth are connected to the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion by a plurality of inwardly extending projections for increasing the rigidity of the plurality of teeth and for increasing the force of engagement of the plurality of teeth against the lip of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The closure member according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of teeth are connected to the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion by a plurality of projections for providing a visual tamper evident indication and for increasing the force of engagement of the plurality of teeth against the lip of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The closure member according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a plurality of tooth channels positioned between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the upper peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion for facilitating the flow of plastic resin during the production of the plurality of rigid teeth.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The closure member according to  claim 15 , wherein the top cylindrical band portion has a plurality of continuous annular ridges extending inwardly along the circumference of an inner surface each of said ridges for contacting a side surface of the container in an interference fit. 
     
     
         23 . A composite tamper resistant push-on closure member for a container having an opening with a peripheral outwardly extending lip formation, the closure comprising:
 a top cover;   a cylindrical closure, the cylindrical closure comprising:   a top cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin extending from the top cover portion, and a lower peripheral margin;   a bottom cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin and a lower peripheral margin;   a rupturable line of weakness between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the upper peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion; and   a plurality of rigid teeth extending from the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion in an upward and inward direction for locking engagement against the lip of the container when the closure member is secured on the container;   the top cylindrical band portion having an annular recess along an inner circumference of the upper peripheral margin for receiving and securing a peripheral margin of the top cover;   wherein a bottom of the plurality of teeth are connected to the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion by a plurality of inwardly extending projections for increasing the rigidity of the plurality of teeth and for increasing the force of engagement of the plurality of teeth against the lip of the container.   
     
     
         24 . The closure member according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a plurality of tooth channels positioned between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the upper peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion for facilitating the flow of plastic resin during the production of the plurality of rigid teeth.   
     
     
         25 . The closure member according to  claim 23 , wherein the closure is formed of plastic material in a single injection molding step. 
     
     
         26 . The closure member according to  claim 23 , wherein the rupturable line of weakness is an apex of a circumferential groove along an outer wall of the bottom cylindrical band portion. 
     
     
         27 . The closure member according to  claim 23 , wherein an accessible edge portion is formed in the bottom cylindrical band portion to permit ready gripping and tearing a part of the bottom band below the line of weakness. 
     
     
         28 . The closure member according to  claim 23 , wherein the top cylindrical band portion has a plurality of continuous annular ridges extending inwardly along the circumference of an inner surface each of said ridges for contacting a side surface of the container in an interference fit. 
     
     
         29 . A method of molding a composite tamper resistant push-on closure member of  claim 23 , the method comprising:
 placing a top cover in a mold;   filling the mold with a resin to form a cylindrical closure comprising:   a top cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin extending from the top cover portion, and a lower peripheral margin;   a bottom cylindrical band portion having an upper peripheral margin and a lower peripheral margin;   a rupturable line of weakness between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the upper peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion; and   a plurality of rigid teeth extending from the lower peripheral margin of the bottom cylindrical band portion in an upward and inward direction for locking engagement against the lip of the container when the closure member is secured on the container;   wherein the resin secures to a peripheral margin of the top cover.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of tooth channels positioned between the lower peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the plurality of rigid teeth of the bottom cylindrical band portion for facilitating the flow of resin during the production of the plurality of rigid teeth. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising applying an adhesive between an annular wall of an annular recess near the upper peripheral margin of the top cylindrical band portion and the peripheral margin of the top cover. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising one or more of heating the annular wall and the peripheral margin of the top cover, ultrasonic welding the annular wall to the peripheral margin of the top cover, and spin welding the annular wall to the peripheral margin of the top cover. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)