Tethered Closure

Abstract

A one-piece closure includes first and second closure portions. The first closure portion includes a top wall portion and a skirt portion with a first frangible connection that partially detachably connects first and second sections of the skirt portion. The second closure portion includes a tamper-evident band that is partially detachably connected to the skirt portion by a second frangible connection. When the first and second frangible connections are broken, a tether is exposed. The tether is attached to a portion of the second closure portion and a portion of the first closure portion. The length of the unattached tether portion extends greater than about 300 degrees around the circumference of the closure.

1 . A one-piece closure comprising:
 a first closure portion including:
 a polymeric top wall portion; 
 a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the annular skirt portion including an internal thread formation for mating engagement with an external thread formation of a container, the polymeric annular skirt portion including a first frangible connection that partially detachably connects to a first section and a second section of the polymeric annular skirt portion; and 
   a second closure portion including:
 a polymeric tamper-evident band, the tamper-evident band depending from and being partially detachably connected to the polymeric annular skirt portion by a second frangible connection, 
 wherein when the first and second frangible connections are broken, a tether is exposed, the tether being attached to a portion of the second closure portion and a portion of the first closure portion, a length of the unattached tether portion extending greater than about 300 degrees around the circumference of the closure, 
 wherein when the internal thread formation of the first closure portion is not in mating engagement with the external thread formation of the container, the first closure portion being adapted to be spaced from the second closure portion via the unattached tether portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion extends greater than about 320 degrees around the circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion extends greater than about 330 degrees around the circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion extends greater than about 340 degrees around the circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the closure is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure further includes an oxygen-scavenger material or an oxygen-barrier material. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the internal thread formation of the annular skirt portions includes at least one helical thread element. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises polyolefins. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a polymeric continuous plug seal depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the continuous plug seal being spaced from an interior surface of the polymeric annular skirt portion. 
     
     
         10 . A one-piece closure comprising:
 a first closure portion including:
 a polymeric top wall portion; 
 a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the annular skirt portion including an internal thread formation for mating engagement with an external thread formation of a container, the polymeric annular skirt portion including a first frangible connection that partially detachably connects to a first section and a second section of the polymeric annular skirt portion; and 
   a second closure portion including:
 a polymeric tamper-evident band, the tamper-evident band depending from and being partially detachably connected to the polymeric annular skirt portion by a second frangible connection, 
 wherein when the first and second frangible connections are broken, a tether is exposed, the tether being attached to a portion of the second closure portion and a portion of the first closure portion, a length of the unattached tether portion being greater than about 50 mm, 
 wherein when the internal thread formation of the first closure portion is not in mating engagement with the external thread formation of the container, the first closure portion being adapted to be spaced from the second closure portion via the unattached tether portion. 
   
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion is greater than about 75 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion is from about 50 to about 100 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the internal thread formation of the annular skirt portions includes at least one helical thread element. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the closure comprises polyolefins. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a polymeric continuous plug seal depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the continuous plug seal being spaced from an interior surface of the polymeric annular skirt portion. 
     
     
         16 . A package comprising:
 a container having a neck portion defining an opening, the container having an external thread formation on the neck portion; and   a one-piece closure being configured for fitment to the neck portion of the container for closing the opening, the one-piece closure including a first closure portion and a second closure portion,   the first closure portion including:
 a polymeric top wall portion; and 
 a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the annular skirt portion including an internal thread formation for mating engagement with the external thread formation of the neck portion of the container, the polymeric annular skirt portion including a first frangible connection that partially detachably connects to a first section and a second section of the polymeric annular skirt portion; and 
   the second closure portion including:
 a polymeric tamper-evident band, the tamper-evident band depending from and being partially detachably connected to the polymeric annular skirt portion by a second frangible connection, 
 wherein when the first and second frangible connections are broken, a tether is exposed, the tether being attached to a portion of the second closure portion and a portion of the first closure portion, a length of the unattached tether portion extending greater than about 300 degrees around the circumference of the closure, 
 wherein when the internal thread formation of the first closure portion is not in mating engagement with the external thread formation of the container, the first closure portion being adapted to be spaced from the second closure portion via the unattached tether portion. 
   
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion extends greater than about 320 degrees around the circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion extends greater than about 340 degrees around the circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a polymeric continuous plug seal depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the continuous plug seal being spaced from an interior surface of the polymeric annular skirt portion. 
     
     
         20 . A package comprising:
 a container having a neck portion defining an opening, the container having an external thread formation on the neck portion; and   a one-piece closure being configured for fitment to the neck portion of the container for closing the opening, the one-piece closure including a first closure portion and a second closure portion,   the first closure portion including:
 a polymeric top wall portion; and 
 a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the annular skirt portion including an internal thread formation for mating engagement with the external thread formation of the neck portion of the container, the polymeric annular skirt portion including a first frangible connection that partially detachably connects to a first section and a second section of the polymeric annular skirt portion; and 
   the second closure portion including:
 a polymeric tamper-evident band, the tamper-evident band depending from and being partially detachably connected to the polymeric annular skirt portion by a second frangible connection, 
 wherein when the first and second frangible connections are broken, a tether is exposed, the tether being attached to a portion of the second closure portion and a portion of the first closure portion, a length of the unattached tether portion being greater than about 50 mm, 
 wherein when the internal thread formation of the first closure portion is not in mating engagement with the external thread formation of the container, the first closure portion being adapted to be spaced from the second closure portion via the unattached tether portion. 
   
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion is greater than about 75 mm. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion is from about 50 to about 100 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a polymeric continuous plug seal depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the continuous plug seal being spaced from an interior surface of the polymeric annular skirt portion. 
     
     
         24 . A method of forming a one-piece closure, the method comprising:
 molding a first closure portion and a second closure portion of the one-piece closure, the first closure portion including a polymeric top wall portion and a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the annular skirt portion including an internal thread formation for mating engagement with an external thread formation of a container, the second closure portion including a polymeric tamper-evident band; and   slitting a lower portion of the annular skirt portion along a first general line and along a second general line, the first general line forming a first frangible connection that partially detachable connects a first section and a second section of the annular skirt portion, the second general line forming a second frangible connection that partially detachable connects the annular skirt portion and the tamper-evident band,   wherein when the first and second frangible connections are broken, a tether is exposed, the tether being attached to a portion of the second closure portion and a portion of the first closure portion, a length of the unattached tether portion extending greater than about 300 degrees around the circumference of the closure,   wherein when the internal thread formation of the first closure portion is not in mating engagement with the external thread formation of the container, the first closure portion being adapted to be spaced from the second closure portion via the unattached tether portion.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion extends greater than about 320 degrees around the circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the length of the unattached tether portion extends greater than about 340 degrees around the circumference of the closure.