Tethered, Hinged Closure

Abstract

A closure includes a cap having a top wall and a skirt perpendicular to the top wall and extending downwardly from the top wall to a lower edge. The skirt includes an inner surface having a sealing formation. A band is concentric with and attached to the lower edge of the skirt by a plurality of frangible members. A tab is formed at a hinge location from the band and extending from the lower edge of the skirt to one or more lines of weakness.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure comprising:
 a top panel including an upper surface and a lower surface;   a rotational axis about which the top panel is centered;   a cylindrical wall extending from the lower surface of the top panel to a bottom edge of the cylindrical wall;   an inner surface of the cylindrical wall facing towards the rotational axis;   a retention band pivotally coupled to the cylindrical wall, the retention band attached to the bottom edge by a plurality of frangible members, the frangible members providing a visual indication, when broken, that the closure has been opened;   a first line of weakness that separates the cylindrical wall and the retention band, wherein the plurality of frangible members extend across the first line of weakness and connect the cylindrical wall and the retention band, the first line of weakness extending circumferentially around the closure from a first end to a second end;   a second line of weakness, the second line of weakness including a tab portion and lateral section that extend from the tab portion, wherein the tab portion defines a tab that extends from the top panel a first distance and the lateral sections define a second distance from the top panel that is less than the first distance;   a hinge extending between the cylindrical wall and the retention band, wherein the hinge is recessed behind an outer surface of the cylindrical wall such that when the first line of weakness is cut by a blade, the hinge maintains a connection between the cylindrical wall and the retention band;   a first tether that extends between the second line of weakness and the first end of the first line of weakness; and   a second tether extends between the second line of weakness and the second end of the first line of weakness.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure is formed via injection molding. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the second line of weakness is formed via the injection molding. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the second line of weakness extends circumferentially away from the tab and vertically away from the top panel. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the first line of weakness defines a height from the top panel that is no shorter than a height of any portions of the second line of weakness from the top panel. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an interference band that extends from the retention band inwardly towards the rotational axis, the interference band extends a first length from a base of the retention band at a first location beneath the tab, and the interference band extends a second length from the base of the retention band at a second location, wherein the second location is opposite the first location with respect to the rotational axis, and wherein the second length is greater than the first length.   
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 6 , wherein the first length is less than 50% of a third length from a bottom of the retention band to a top of the retention band. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1 , the tab comprising a protrusion that extends radially away from the rotational axis, wherein the tab interfaces against a container neck of a container the closure is affixed to, which results in biasing the top panel away from an opening of the container neck. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion extends further from the rotational axis than any portion of the retention band. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion extends further from the rotational axis than any portion of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         11 . A closure comprising:
 a top panel including an upper surface and a lower surface;   a rotational axis about which the top panel is centered;   a cylindrical wall extending from the lower surface of the top panel to a bottom edge of the cylindrical wall;   an inner surface of the cylindrical wall facing towards the rotational axis;   a retention band pivotally coupled to the cylindrical wall, the retention band attached to the bottom edge by a plurality of frangible members, the frangible members providing a visual indication, when broken, that the closure has been opened;   a first line of weakness that separates the cylindrical wall and the retention band, wherein the plurality of frangible members extend across the first line of weakness and connect the cylindrical wall and the retention band, the first line of weakness extending circumferentially around the closure from a first end to a second end;   a second line of weakness, the second line of weakness including a tab portion and lateral section that extend from the tab portion, wherein the tab portion defines a tab that extends from the top panel a first distance and the lateral sections define a second distance from the top panel that is less than the first distance;   a hinge extending between the cylindrical wall and the retention band, wherein the hinge extends radially inward towards the rotational axis from the cylindrical wall such that when the first line of weakness is cut by a blade, the hinge maintains a connection between the cylindrical wall and the retention band;   a first tether that extends between the second line of weakness and the first end of the first line of weakness; and   a second tether extends between the second line of weakness and the second end of the first line of weakness.   
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the closure is formed via injection molding. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , wherein the second line of weakness is formed via the injection molding. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the second line of weakness extends circumferentially away from the tab and vertically away from the top panel. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the first line of weakness defines a height from the top panel that is no shorter than a height of any portions of the second line of weakness from the top panel. 
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 11 , the tab comprising a protrusion that extends radially away from the rotational axis, wherein the tab interfaces against a container neck of a container the closure is affixed to, which results in biasing the top panel away from an opening of the container neck. 
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion extends further from the rotational axis than any portion of the retention band. 
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion extends further from the rotational axis than any portion of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         19 . A closure comprising:
 a top panel including an upper surface and a lower surface;   a rotational axis about which the top panel is centered;   a cylindrical wall extending from the lower surface of the top panel to a bottom edge of the cylindrical wall;   an inner surface of the cylindrical wall facing towards the rotational axis;   a retention band pivotally coupled to the cylindrical wall, the retention band attached to the bottom edge by a plurality of frangible members, the frangible members providing a visual indication, when broken, that the closure has been opened;   a first line of weakness that separates the cylindrical wall and the retention band, wherein the plurality of frangible members extend across the first line of weakness and connect the cylindrical wall and the retention band, the first line of weakness extending circumferentially around the closure from a first end to a second end;   a second line of weakness, the second line of weakness including a tab portion and lateral section that extend from the tab portion, wherein the tab portion defines a tab that extends from the top panel a first distance and the lateral sections define a second distance from the top panel that is less than the first distance, the tab comprising a protrusion that extends radially away from the rotational axis, wherein the tab interfaces against a container neck of a container the closure is affixed to, which results in biasing the top panel away from an opening of the container neck, wherein at least a portion of the second line of weakness is further from the top panel than at least a portion of the first line of weakness;   a first tether that extends between the second line of weakness and the first end of the first line of weakness; and   a second tether extends between the second line of weakness and the second end of the first line of weakness.   
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 19 , wherein the closure is formed via injection molding, and wherein the second line of weakness is formed via the injection molding.