Sanitary Tamper-Evident Beverage Cap

Abstract

A sanitary tamper-evident cap for beverage bottles. The cap has a screw thread and a tamper-evident ring, which ring is retained on the neck of the bottle after opening. The cap has an extended skirt which completely covers the tamper-evident ring, thus protecting the tamper-evident ring from contaminants. The cap may be made of transparent or translucent material to facilitate identifying whether the tamper-evident ring is still attached to the cap. The cap may incorporate a pop-up dispensing mechanism common on sports bottles. The cap may incorporate tabs on the portion of the cap to which the tamper-evident ring attaches such that the tabs are hidden when the cap has not been opened, but the tabs become visible upon opening.

1 . A closure for bottles of the type having a screw thread adjacent to the bottle's mouth on the exterior of said mouth, said closure comprising:
 a cap having a peripheral skirt;   an internal screw thread on said skirt which is complementary to the screw thread on the bottle's mouth;   a tamper-evident ring;   means of forming a frangible connection between said tamper-evident ring and said skirt such that said tamper-evident ring is connected to said skirt until such time as said cap is removed from said bottle, at which time said frangible connection is severed and said tamper-evident ring is retained on said bottle;   an extension of said skirt, such extension extending from said skirt from above said means of forming a frangible connection to beyond said tamper-evident ring such that said tamper-evident ring is completely covered by said extension.   
   
   
       2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein such closure is made of transparent or translucent material such that said frangible connection may be seen through said extension. 
   
   
       3 . The closure of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein such closure further comprises means for dispensing liquid stored within said bottle through the top of said cap without requiring complete removal of said cap. 
   
   
       4 . The closure of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein such closure further comprises means for indicating that said frangible connection has been severed, said means including red or other colored tabs that are concealed when said frangible connection is intact but are visible after said frangible connection has been severed.