Retained satellite ring cap and bottle assembly

Abstract

A retained satellite ring cap having an outer skirt adapted for engagement with a bottle neck and a satellite tamper evident ring connected by at least one frangible connector to the outer skirt. Satellite tamper evident ring having retaining means adapted for engagement with the bottle neck. Satellite ring including a transitional wall which extends upwardly and inwardly from the satellite ring to immediately below a lower edge of the outer skirt and is linked by at least one frangible connector to the outer skirt. The arrangement being such that when the cap is fitted to a bottle, the tamper evident ring is located with the retaining means engaged with the bottle neck. On twisting removal of the cap, at least one frangible connector is broken, allowing the cap to be removed while the satellite tamper evident ring is retained in position on the bottle neck by the retaining means.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A retained satellite ring cap having an outer skirt adapted for engagement with a bottle neck and a satellite tamper evident ring connected by at least one frangible connector to the outer skirt, the satellite tamper evident ring having retaining means adapted for engagement with the bottle neck, and the satellite ring including a transitional wall which extends upwardly and inwardly from the satellite ring to immediately below or adjacent to a lower edge of the outer skirt, the transitional wall being linked by the at least one frangible connector to the outer skirt, the arrangement being such that initially with the cap fitted to a bottle the tamper evident ring is located with the retaining means engaged with the bottle neck so that on twisting removal of the cap the at least one frangible connector is broken to allow the cap to be removed while the satellite tamper evident ring is retained in position on the bottle neck by the retaining means.  
     
     
         2 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the transitional wall is continuous about the circumference of the ring.  
     
     
         3 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the transitional wall is discontinuous about the circumference of the ring.  
     
     
         4 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the transitional wall comprises a plurality of spaced ramp sections.  
     
     
         5 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the retaining means comprise a rib/ridge or ribs/ridges on the tamper evident ring and/or bottle which co-operate together when the cap is fitted to the bottle to retain the tamper evident ring on the bottle neck.  
     
     
         6 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 5  wherein a rib is provided on the bottle neck below a thread form on the bottle neck to provide the co-operation between the rib/ridge or ribs/ridges.  
     
     
         7 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the rib provided on the bottle co-operates with a series of ribs or recesses on an inner periphery of the satellite tamper evident ring.  
     
     
         8 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 4  wherein each ramp section is linked by a frangible connector to the outer skirt.  
     
     
         9 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each ramp section is linked by two frangible connectors to the outer skirt.  
     
     
         10 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the retaining means comprise a ridge or rib provided on the tamper evident ring adjacent to at least one of the spaces between adjacent ramp sections.  
     
     
         11 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the retaining means comprise a ridge or rib provided on the tamper evident ring adjacent to each of the spaces between adjacent ramp sections.  
     
     
         12 . A retained satellite ring cap having an outer skirt adapted for engagement with a bottle neck and a satellite tamper evident ring connected by frangible connectors to the outer skirt, the satellite tamper evident ring having retaining means adapted for engagement with the bottle neck, wherein the satellite ring or the frangible connectors include a plurality of spaced ramp sections which extend upwardly and inwardly from the satellite ring to immediately below or adjacent to a lower edge of the outer skirt, each ramp section being linked by at least one frangible connector to the outer skirt, the arrangement being such that initially with the cap fitted to a bottle the tamper evident ring is located with the retaining means engaged with the bottle neck so that on twisting removal of the cap the frangible connectors are broken to allow the cap to be removed while the satellite tamper evident ring is retained in position on the bottle neck by the retaining means.  
     
     
         13 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 12  wherein adjacent ramp sections are be adjoined to provide a substantially continuous transitional wall between the at least one frangible connector and the outer skirt.  
     
     
         14 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the retaining means comprise a rib/ridge or ribs/ridges on the tamper evident ring and/or bottle which co-operate together when the cap is fitted to the bottle to retain the tamper evident ring on the bottle neck.  
     
     
         15 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 14  wherein a rib is provided on the bottle neck below a thread form on the bottle neck to provide the co-operation between the rib/ridge or ribs/ridges.  
     
     
         16 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the rib provided on the bottle co-operates with a series of ribs or recesses on an inner periphery of the satellite tamper evident ring.  
     
     
         17 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 12  wherein each ramp section is linked by two frangible connectors to the outer skirt.  
     
     
         18 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the retaining means comprise a ridge or rib provided on the tamper evident ring adjacent to at least one of the spaces between adjacent ramp sections.  
     
     
         19 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the retaining means comprise a ridge or rib provided on the tamper evident ring adjacent to each of the spaces between adjacent ramp sections.  
     
     
         20 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the angle between a central axis of the cap and the ramp sections is between 15 degrees and 45 degrees.  
     
     
         21 . A retained satellite ring cap as claimed in  claim 12  wherein 2 to 10 ramp sections are provided.  
     
     
         22 . A bottle for use with the retained satellite ring cap according to  claim 1 , the bottle having a neck adapted for engagement with the cap, the neck incorporating retaining means, the retaining means being formed as a rib or recess below a thread form on the neck, the retaining means being located above or spaced above a shoulder or lower section below which the remainder of the bottle is formed, the arrangement being such that the cap, when fitted to the bottle after it is filled, is locked thereto with a rib and/or ridge(s) or recess(es) on the satellite ring engaging with the retaining means such that when the cap is removed the frangible connectors between the satellite ring and the skirt of the cap are ruptured leaving the satellite ring on the bottle neck.  
     
     
         23 . A bottle as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the means for engaging the cap and bottle together are complementary screw threads formed on the bottle neck and skirt of the cap.  
     
     
         24 . A bottle for use with the retained satellite ring cap according to  claim 12 , the bottle having a neck adapted for engagement with the cap, the neck incorporating retaining means, the retaining means being formed as a rib or recess below a thread form on the neck, the retaining means being located above or spaced above a shoulder or lower section below which the remainder of the bottle is formed, the arrangement being such that the cap, when fitted to the bottle after it is filled, is locked thereto with a rib and/or ridge(s) or recess(es) on the satellite ring engaging with the retaining means such that when the cap is removed the frangible connectors between the satellite ring and the skirt of the cap are ruptured leaving the satellite ring on the bottle neck.  
     
     
         25 . A bottle as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the means for engaging the cap and bottle together are complementary screw threads formed on the bottle neck and skirt of the cap.  
     
     
         26 . A retained satellite ring a cap and bottle assembly incorporating the retained satellite ring cap of  claim 12  and a bottle having a neck adapted for engagement with the cap, the neck incorporating retaining means, the retaining means being formed as a rib or recess below a thread form on the neck, the retaining means being located above or spaced above a shoulder or lower section below which the remainder of the bottle is formed, the arrangement being such that the cap, when fitted to the bottle after it is filled, is locked thereto with a rib and/or ridge(s) or recess(es) on the satellite ring engaging with the retaining means such that when the cap is removed the frangible connectors between the satellite ring and the skirt of the cap are ruptured leaving the satellite ring on the bottle neck.