Visual Tamper-Evident Conical Screw Cap and Neck Finish

Abstract

A tamper-evident cap is disclosed including a closure member and an annular wall depending outward therefrom to a bottom rim. Annular wall has a flange or sealing member extending inwardly adjacent to the closure member and a plurality of threads spaced apart and helically positioned to cooperate with respective threads of a container neck finish having substantially the same outward shape. A band is circumferentially positioned around the bottom rim including a pull tab and teeth. The pull tab extends from a part of the band and is preferably positioned within the circumference of the band. The teeth are mounted on a boss each tooth having an inner face angled acutely relative to the rim and being designed fit with the neck finish. A cap in combination with a neck finish having a vertical wall for sealing engagement with the cap annular flange is also disclosed.

1 . A tamper-evident cap comprising:
 a closure member and an annular wall depending from the closure member, said wall tapering outward to a bottom rim to cooperate with a neck finish having substantially the same angular taper;   an annular flange positioned around an interior surface of the annular wall adjacent to the closure member;   at least one boss proximate said bottom rim;   a band circumferentially positioned around the bottom rim including teeth diverted inwardly and at least one tooth being mounted on said at least one boss, wherein the teeth are adapted to engage cooperative teeth on a neck finish, each said tooth having an inner face, said inner face being positioned at an acute angle relative to the bottom rim; and   a plurality of threads spaced apart and helically positioned on an interior surface of the annular wall extending from about the annular flange to proximate said bottom rim.   
   
   
       2 . The cap as in  claim 1  further including a pull tab extending upwardly or downwardly from a part of the band. 
   
   
       3 . The cap as in  claim 2  wherein the pull tab is positioned within the circumference of the band. 
   
   
       4 . The cap as in  claim 2  wherein the pull tab is attached to the band with at least one break-tie. 
   
   
       5 . The cap as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a sealing means is positioned in juxtaposition with said closure member. 
   
   
       6 . The cap as in  claim 1  further including an annular valve depending from the closure member and spaced apart from an interior surface of the annular wall. 
   
   
       7 . The cap as in  claim 1  further including serrations on an exterior surface of the annular wall. 
   
   
       8 . The cap as in  claim 7  wherein the serrations taper toward the bottom rim and have an outer dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the closure member. 
   
   
       9 . The cap as in  claim 1  wherein the flange extends relative to the closure member at an angle of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The cap as in  claim 1  wherein the threads project inwardly at an angle of about 30 to 90 degrees. 
   
   
       11 . The cap as in  claim 1  wherein the acute angle of inner face is about 10 to about 20 degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The cap as in  claim 1  wherein the boss extends horizontally radially across the bottom rim. 
   
   
       13 . The cap as in  claim 1  wherein said taper provides a conical shape. 
   
   
       14 . The cap as in  claim 1  in combination with a neck finish for a container, wherein the neck finish comprises:
 an annular wall having a first and second end, defining a cylindrical opening therethrough, and having an annular lip extending inwardly toward said opening from a vertical wall at the first end thereof;   at least one set of ratchet teeth positioned around a portion of an outer surface of the neck annular wall at the second end; and   multiple threads angularly positioned on an exterior surface of the neck annular wall between the first end and the ratchet teeth.   
   
   
       15 . The cap as in  claim 14  wherein the vertical wall is adapted to associate or engage the annular flange on the cap. 
   
   
       16 . The cap as in  claim 14  wherein the lip terminates with an inner end adapted to contact a valve of the cap. 
   
   
       17 . The cap as in  claim 14  wherein the neck finish further includes an annular ring flange extending substantially around the annular wall adjacent to the set of ratchet teeth. 
   
   
       18 . The cap as in  claim 14  further including a protective rim  70  extending around the exterior surface of the neck annular wall and projecting outward from the set of ratchet teeth. 
   
   
       19 . The cap as in  claim 14  wherein the cap further includes a valve depending from the closure member spaced apart from an internal surface of the annular depending wall a distance sufficient to engage an annular lip of the neck finish. 
   
   
       20 . A tamper-evident cap comprising a closure member and an annular wall depending therefrom, said wall tapering outwardly to a bottom rim to cooperate with a neck finish having substantially the same angular taper;
 a sealing member juxtapositioned substantially coextensively with said closure member;   at least one boss proximate said bottom rim, a band circumferentially positioned mount said bottom rim having teeth directed inwardly and at least one tooth being mounted on a boss and adapted to engage teeth on a neck finish of a bottle, each of said teeth having an inner face positioned at an acute angle relative to the bottom rim, and   a plurality of spaced apart threads helically positioned on the inner surface of the annular wall from a point positioned away from said sealing member to about said bottom rim.   
   
   
       21 . The cap as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said sealing member comprises a disk.