Tethered container closure

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a container closure that includes a tether that keeps the closure coupled with a plastic container after the closure has been unsealed to access contents within the container. The container closure comprises a closure portion coupled to a tamper evidence band by a tether bridge. The closure portion threadably engages with a finish portion of the container and seal contents in an interior of the container. The tamper evidence band remains engaged with the finish portion when the closure portion is removed from the finish portion. A multiplicity of thin connections between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. The tether bridge remains unbroken and is configured to allow the closure portion to be tilted away from the finish portion by an end-user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container and remaining coupled with the container after being unsealed from the container, the closure comprising:
 a closure portion for threadably engaging with a finish portion of the container;   a tamper evidence band for engaging with the finish portion; and   a tether bridge for keeping the closure portion attached to the tamper evidence band.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein a multiplicity of thin connections attach the tamper evidence band to closure portion and are configured to break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the tamper evidence band is configured to remain engaged with the finish portion when the closure portion is removed from the finish portion, thereby causing the thin connections to break apart and allow the closure portion to separate from the tamper evidence band. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the tether bridge is configured such that only the thin connections break apart during loosening of the closure portion. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the tether bridge is formed during injection-molding by allowing material comprising the closure to remain disposed between a pair of adjacent thin connections. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the tether bridge is formed after injection-molding by using a blade to create spaces between the thin connections and avoiding cutting at the location of the tether bridge. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tether bridge comprises a single piece of material that extends between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tether bridge comprises two or more portions of material joining the tamper evidence band and the closure portion. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tether bridge is configured to keep the closure portion attached to the finish portion after the closure portion is unsealed from the finish portion. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tether bridge is configured to flex while the closure portion is tilted with respect to the tamper evidence band. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the tether bridge comprises a relatively thick portion of plastic that is configured to resist breaking during tilting the closure portion away from the finish portion. 
     
     
         12 . A method for a closure to seal contents within an interior of a container and remain coupled with the container after being unsealed from the container, the method comprising:
 configuring a closure portion for threadably engaging with a finish portion of the container;   configuring a tamper evidence band for engaging with the finish portion; and   joining the closure portion and the tamper evidence band by way of a tether bridge.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein joining includes configuring the tether bridge to keep the closure portion attached to the finish portion after the closure portion is unsealed from the finish portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein joining includes configuring the tether bridge to flex when the closure portion is tilted with respect to the tamper evidence band. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein joining includes extending a single piece of material comprising the tether bridge between the tamper evidence band and the closure portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein joining includes coupling the tamper evidence band and the closure portion by way of two or more portions of material comprising the tether bridge. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein joining includes coupling the closure portion and the tamper evidence band by way of a multiplicity of thin connections configured to break apart when the closure portion is untightened from the finish portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein joining includes configuring the tether bridge such that only the thin connections break apart during loosening of the closure portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein configuring the tether bridge includes injection-molding such that material comprising the closure fills one or more spaces between adjacent thin connections. 
     
     
         20 . A method for a closure, comprising:
 loosening a closure portion threaded onto a finish portion of the container;   breaking a multiplicity of thin connections disposed between the closure portion and a tamper evidence band engaged with the finish portion; and   bending a tether bridge disposed between the closure portion and a tamper evidence band by tilting the closure portion away from the finish portion.