Improvements in and relating to tamper evident seals

Abstract

A tamper evident seal for a container includes a screw thread and a closure adapted for use with the container. The seal comprises a normally circular ring which is frangibly linked to the closure. The ring has one or more inwardly extending protrusions, and the container has one or more corresponding outwardly extending protrusions adjacent its screw thread. Faces of the protrusions are configured such that the leading face of each ring protrusion approaches the forward face of each container protrusion when the closure is fitted onto the container. Protrusions are situated in spaced apart locations about a perimeter of the container or ring and the normally circular ring is able to pass over the protrusion or protrusions on the container substantially without stretching by deforming out of round. The closure is adapted for use as a drinking vessel and the container is substantially bottle shaped.

1 . A tamper evident seal for a container having a screw thread and a closure means adapted for use with the container, the tamper evident seal comprising a normally circular ring which is frangibly linked to the closure means, the ring having one or more inwardly extending protrusions, and the container having one or more corresponding outwardly extending protrusions adjacent its screw thread, the or each protrusion on the ring having a leading face, and an opposing trailing face, and the or each protrusion on the container having a forward face and an opposing aft face, the faces being configured such that the leading face of the or each ring protrusion approaches the forward face of the or each container protrusion when the closure means is being fitted onto the container, and wherein any protrusions on the container or ring are situated or grouped in spaced apart locations about a perimeter of the container or ring and the normally circular ring is able to pass over the protrusion or protrusions on the container substantially without stretching and by deforming out of round. 
   
   
       2 . The tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the or each trailing face is substantially aligned at an acute angle to a tangent of an inner surface of the ring at the point where the trailing face meets the inner surface of the ring. 
   
   
       3 . The tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the or each aft face is substantially aligned at an acute angle to a tangent of the perimeter of the container at the point where the aft face meets the perimeter of the container. 
   
   
       4 . The tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 3  wherein where there are two protrusions on the container or the ring, they are located on opposite sides of the container or ring, and where there are more than two protrusions they are grouped into two groups with each group being on opposite sides of the container or ring. 
   
   
       5 . The tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 4  wherein each of the protrusions in any group of protrusions on the container or ring, are linked by a web extending between adjacent protrusions. 
   
   
       6 . The tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 5  wherein a face of the or each protrusion on the container facing the screw threads of the container is bevelled with respect to the outer surface of the container. 
   
   
       7 . The tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the or each forward face is bevelled with respect to the outer surface of the container. 
   
   
       8 . The tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the or each leading face is bevelled with respect to an inner surface of the ring. 
   
   
       9 . The tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the ring protrusions can be bevelled on their upper and/or lower faces. 
   
   
       10 . A liquids packaging product incorporating at least one tamper evident seal as claimed in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . The liquids packaging product as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the closure means is also adapted for use as a drinking vessel. 
   
   
       11 . The liquids packaging product as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the container is substantially bottle shaped. 
   
   
       12 . The liquids packaging product as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the closure means or drinking vessel is manufactured entirely, or primarily, from a styrene plastics material. 
   
   
       13 - 14 . (canceled)