Tethered plastic screw stopper

Abstract

The present invention relates to tethered stopper having a closure shell and a tamper band connected to the closure shell by breakable bridges that connect a lower side of the closure shell to a top edge of the tamper band. A link is defined within a portion of the stopper and includes an elongate member having a first end integrally connected with the tamper band and a second end integrally connected to a strut extending from the lower side of the closure shell. A breakable bridge may also be provided between the tamper band and elongate member. The strut includes a cross-sectional area sufficient to retain permanent connection of the second end of the elongate member with the closure shell. The strut generally transversely extends relative to the extension of the elongate member of the link.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tethered plastic stopper for a container, comprising:
 a closure shell;   a tamper band connected to the closure shell by a plurality of breakable bridges that connect a bottom edge of the closure shell to a top edge of the tamper band, the tamper band generally extending along a circumferential path from the top edge of the tamper band;   a link defined within a portion of the tamper band, the link comprising an elongate member comprising a first end integrally connected with the tamper band and a second end integrally connected to the closure shell, at least one breakable bridge positioned along the elongate member between the first and second ends, the at least one breakable bridge connecting the link with the tamper band, wherein the link is partially separable and selectively displaceable relative to the tamper band once the at least one breakable bridge is broken; and   a strut integrally connecting the second end of the elongate member of the link with the closure shell, the strut comprising a cross-sectional area sufficient to retain permanent connection of the second end of the link with the closure shell, the strut generally transversely extending relative to the extension of the elongate member of the link.   
     
     
         2 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein displacement of the closure shell relative to the container causes displacement of the link, the link defining a length sufficient for the closure shell to remove itself from sealing engagement with the container while the first end remains integrally connected with the tamper band. 
     
     
         3 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein separation of the closure shell relative to the tamper band causes separation of the breakable bridges, thereby permitting selective displacement of the elongate member relative to the tamper band at the first end and the closure shell at the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 3 , wherein the link generally extends circumferentially along the path of the tamper band when the breakable bridges are connected between at least the tamper band and the closure shell, and wherein separation of the closure shell relative to the link causes the second end of the elongate member to separate from the tamper band. 
     
     
         5 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 4 , wherein the rate of separation of the closure shell and tamper band and the rate of separation of the second end of the elongate member and tamper band are substantially similar. 
     
     
         6 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 4 , wherein the link generally extends along a helical path when the closure shell is at least partially separated from the tamper band. 
     
     
         7 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure shell comprises two struts spaced apart from each other, each strut being integrally connected to a second end of an elongate member oppositely and outwardly extending therefrom, the respective first ends thereof being integrally connected to the tamper band. 
     
     
         8 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the strut is 30% greater than a cross-sectional area of the breakable bridges. 
     
     
         9 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein the link extends along the circumferential path of the tamper band, angularly extending around the tamper band between about 10-350 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 1 , wherein the link extends along the circumferential path of the tamper band, angularly extending around the tamper band about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one separation line formed between the link and the tamper band. 
     
     
         12 . A tethered plastic stopper for a container having an opening, the stopper comprising:
 a closure shell for selective sealing engagement with the opening;   a tamper band connected to the closure shell by a plurality of breakable bridges that connect a bottom edge of the closure shell to a top edge of the tamper band, the tamper band generally extending along a circumferential path from the top edge of the tamper band;   a retaining member formed within a portion of the tamper band, the retaining member comprising an elongate arm comprising a first end integrally connected with the tamper band and extending along the circumferential path of the tamper band to a second end, at least one breakable bridge connecting the retaining member with the tamper band; and   a strut permanently connecting the second end of the elongate arm with the closure shell, the strut generally transversely extending relative to the extension of the elongate arm and comprising a length sufficient to provide at least some offset between the elongate arm and the bottom edge of the closure shell, the strut comprising a cross-sectional area sufficient to maintain permanent connection between the second end of the elongate arm and the closure shell.   
     
     
         13 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container having an opening of  claim 12 , wherein displacement of the closure shell relative to the container causes displacement of the retaining member, wherein the retaining member is partially separable and selectively displaceable relative to the tamper band once the at least one breakable bridge is broken, wherein the closure shell may remove itself from sealing engagement with the opening of the container while remaining connected to the tamper band with the retaining member. 
     
     
         14 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container having an opening of  claim 12 , wherein at least two struts are provided, and each strut being configured to remain attached to the closure shell and allow the retaining members to remain attached to the tamper band. 
     
     
         15 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container having an opening of  claim 12 , wherein the closure shell comprises two struts spaced apart from each other, each strut being integrally connected to a second end of an elongate member oppositely and outwardly extending therefrom, the respective first ends thereof being integrally connected to the tamper band. 
     
     
         16 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container having an opening of  claim 12 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the strut is at least between about 30%-150% greater than a cross-sectional area of the breakable bridges. 
     
     
         17 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container having an opening of  claim 12 , wherein the retaining member extends along the circumferential path of the tamper band, angularly extending around the tamper band between about 10-350 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The tethered plastic stopper for a container having an opening of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one separation line formed between the link and the tamper band. 
     
     
         19 . A tethered stopper for a container having an opening, the container comprising:
 a closure shell;   a tamper band connected to the closure shell by a plurality of breakable bridges that connect a lower side of the closure shell to a top edge of the tamper band, the tamper band generally extending along a circumferential path from the top edge of the tamper band;   a link defined within a portion of the tamper band, the link comprising an elongate member comprising a first end integrally connected with the tamper band, a second end, and at least one separation line defined between the elongate member and the tamper band, at least one breakable bridge positioned along the elongate member between the first and second ends, the at least one breakable bridge connecting the elongate member with the tamper band temporarily until the closure shell is separated from sealed engagement with the opening of the container; and   a strut integrally connecting the second end of the elongate member of the link with the lower side of the closure shell, the strut comprising a cross-sectional area sufficient to retain permanent connection of the second end with the closure shell, the strut generally transversely extending relative to the extension of the elongate member of the link.   
     
     
         20 . The tethered stopper for a container having an opening of  claim 19 , wherein the closure shell comprises two struts spaced apart from each other and extending from the lower side of the closure shell, each strut being integrally connected to a second end of a separate elongate member that oppositely and outwardly extends therefrom to respective first ends, the first ends thereof being integrally connected to respective portions of tamper band.