Tamper-indicating closure and container

Abstract

A tamper-indicating package includes a container having a neck finish with at least one external thread segment, at least two angularly spaced sets of external ratchet teeth spaced from the thread segment and a circumferentially extending radial enlargement between the two sets of ratchet teeth. A closure includes a skirt with at least one internal thread segment engaging the external thread segment on the container neck finish, a tamper band frangibly connected to the skirt, and a circumferential array of internal engagement elements on the tamper band for engaging the ratchet teeth on the neck finish to prevent rotation of the tamper band with respect to the ratchet teeth and thereby sever the tamper band from the closure skirt upon first unthreading of the closure from the container neck finish. The circumferentially extending radial enlargement between the sets of ratchet teeth is slidably engaged by the engagement elements on the tamper band to prevent ovalization of the tamper band between the sets of ratchet teeth.

1 . A tamper-indicating package that includes:
 a container having a neck finish with at least one external thread segment, at least two angularly spaced sets of external ratchet teeth spaced from said thread segment and a circumferentially extending radial enlargement between said at least two sets of ratchet teeth, and   a closure that includes a skirt with at least one internal thread segment engaging said external thread segment on said neck finish, a tamper band frangibly connected to said skirt, and a circumferential array of internal flexible resilient wing-shaped engagement elements on said tamper band engaging said ratchet teeth on said neck finish to prevent rotation of said tamper band with respect to said ratchet teeth and thereby sever said tamper band from said closure skirt upon first unthreading of said closure from said neck finish,   said circumferentially extending radial enlargement between said sets of ratchet teeth being slidably engaged by said flexible resilient wing-shaped engagement elements and preventing ovalization of said tamper band between said sets of ratchet teeth.   
   
   
       2 . The package set forth in  claim 1  wherein said neck finish includes two diametrically spaced sets of said ratchet teeth and two diametrically spaced enlargements respectively disposed between said sets of ratchet teeth. 
   
   
       3 . The package set forth in  claim 2  wherein said external ratchet teeth have radially outer edges at a first radius from an axis of said neck finish and said enlargements have outer edges at a maximum second radius from said axis equal to or less than said first radius. 
   
   
       4 . The package set forth in  claim 1  wherein said circumferentially extending radial enlargement has a smooth radially outwardly facing external surface. 
   
   
       5 . The package set forth in  claim 4  wherein said radially outwardly facing external surface is at constant radius from an axis of said neck finish. 
   
   
       6 . The package set forth in  claim 4  wherein said radially outwardly facing external surface is at varying radius from an axis of said neck finish. 
   
   
       7 . A container having a cylindrical neck finish with a central axis, at least one external thread segment, at least two angularly spaced sets of external ratchet teeth spaced from said thread segment and a circumferentially extending radial enlargement between said at least two sets of ratchet teeth,
 wherein said circumferentially extending radial enlargements have smooth radially outwardly facing external surfaces at varying radius from said axis of said neck finish.   
   
   
       8 . The container set forth in  claim 7  wherein said neck finish includes two diametrically spaced sets of said ratchet teeth and two diametrically spaced enlargements respectively disposed between said sets of ratchet teeth. 
   
   
       9 . The container set forth in  claim 8  wherein said external ratchet teeth have radially outer edges at a first radius from said axis and said enlargements have radially outer edges at a maximum second radius from said axis equal to or less than said first radius. 
   
   
       10 - 12 . (canceled)