Package and closure with tamper-evident band

Abstract

A closure includes first and second closure portions. The first closure portion includes a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion that includes an internal thread formation. The second closure portion includes a tamper-evident band being at least partially detachably connected to the skirt portion by a frangible connection. The tamper-evident band includes first and second portions connected via a bending area. The second portion extends generally upwardly from the bending area towards the top portion and is located inwardly from the first portion of the band. The second portion of the band includes a tab portion and an extension portion. The extension portion is located further from the bending area than the tab portion. The average thickness of the tab portion is greater than the average thickness of the extension portion. The extension portion extends continuously around an entire inner circumference of the closure.

1 . A closure comprising:
 a first closure portion including:
 a polymeric top wall portion; 
 a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the annular skirt portion including an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface of the annular skirt portion including an internal thread formation for mating engagement with an external thread formation of a container; and 
   a second closure portion including:
 a polymeric tamper-evident band depending from and being at least partially detachably connected to the polymeric annular skirt portion by a frangible connection, the polymeric tamper-evident band including a first portion and a second portion connected via a bending area, the second portion extending generally upwardly from the bending area towards the polymeric top portion and being located inwardly from the first portion of the polymeric tamper-evident band, the second portion of the tamper-evident band including a tab portion and an extension portion, the extension portion being located further from the bending area than the tab portion, the extension portion angling inwardly from the bending area, the average thickness of the tab portion being greater than the average thickness of the extension portion, the extension portion extending continuously around an entire inner circumference of the closure, the extension portion being spaced from the interior surface of the polymeric annular skirt portion before mating engagement with the container. 
   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tab portion and the extension portion are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the extension portion of the tamper-evident band is at an angle of from 5 to about 30 degrees inwardly relative to an axis extending to the polymeric top wall portion before mating engagement with the container. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein the extension portion of the tamper-evident band is at an angle of from about 10 to about 25 degrees inwardly relative to an axis extending to the polymeric top wall portion before mating engagement with the container. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein the extension portion of the tamper-evident band is at an angle of from 10 to about 20 degrees inwardly relative to an axis extending to the polymeric top wall portion before mating engagement with the container. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the average thickness of the tab portion is from about 2 to about 8 times greater than the average thickness of the extension portion. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 6 , wherein the average thickness of the tab portion is from about 3 to about 6 times greater than the average thickness of the extension portion. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the tab portion is from about 0.75 to about 3 times greater than the length of the extension portion. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 8 , wherein the length of the tab portion is from about 1 to about 2 times greater than the length of the extension portion. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure is a one-piece closure. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises polyolefins. 
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a polymeric continuous plug seal depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the continuous plug seal being spaced from the interior surface of the polymeric annular skirt portion. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , wherein the first closure portion further includes a polymeric outer seal depending from the polymeric top wall portion. 
     
     
         14 . A closure comprising:
 a first closure portion including:
 a polymeric top wall portion; 
 a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the annular skirt portion including an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface of the annular skirt portion including an internal thread formation for mating engagement with an external thread formation of a container; and 
   a second closure portion including:
 a polymeric tamper-evident band depending from and being at least partially detachably connected to the polymeric annular skirt portion by a frangible connection, the polymeric tamper-evident band including a first portion and a second portion connected via a bending area towards the polymeric top wall portion, the second portion extending generally upwardly from the bending area towards the polymeric top portion and being located inwardly from the first portion of the polymeric tamper-evident band, the second portion of the tamper-evident band including a tab portion and an extension portion, the extension portion being located further from the bending area than the tab portion, the extension portion angling inwardly from the bending area, the average thickness of the tab portion being greater than the average thickness of the extension portion, the extension portion extending around the entire inner circumference of the closure in a substantially continuous manner, the extension portion being spaced from the interior surface of the polymeric annular skirt portion before mating engagement with the container. 
   
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein the extension portion extends from about 75% to about 99% around the inner circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 15 , wherein the extension portion extends from about 80% to about 99% around the inner circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein the extension portion extends from about 90% to about 99% around the inner circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 17 , wherein the extension portion extends from about 95% to about 99% around the inner circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein the tab portion and the extension portion are substantially vertical. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein the extension portion of the tamper-evident band is at an angle of from 10 to about 20 degrees inwardly relative to an axis extending to the polymeric top wall portion before mating engagement with the container. 
     
     
         21 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein the average thickness of the tab portion is from about 3 to about 6 times greater than the average thickness of the extension portion. 
     
     
         22 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein the length of the tab portion is from about 0.75 to about 3 times greater than the length of the extension portion. 
     
     
         23 . A package comprising:
 a container having a neck portion defining an opening, the container having an external thread formation on the neck portion and an A-collar; and   a closure being configured for fitment to the neck portion of the container for closing the opening, the closure comprising a first closure portion and a second closure portion, the first closure portion includes a polymeric top wall portion and a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the polymeric top wall portion, the annular skirt portion including an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface of the annular skirt portion including an internal thread formation for mating engagement with the external thread formation of the container, the second closure portion including a polymeric tamper-evident band depending from and being at least partially detachably connected to the polymeric annular skirt portion by a frangible connection, the polymeric tamper-evident band including a first portion and a second portion connected via a bending area, the second portion extending generally upwardly from the bending area towards the polymeric top portion and being located inwardly from the first portion of the polymeric tamper-evident band, the second portion of the tamper-evident band including a tab portion and an extension portion, the extension portion being located further from the bending area than the tab portion, the average thickness of the tab portion being greater than the average thickness of the extension portion, the extension portion extending continuously around an entire inner circumference of the closure,   wherein the extension portion abuts with an exterior surface of the A-collar of the container, and wherein the extension portion is angled inwardly from the bending area before mating engagement with the container.   
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the extension portion extends continuously around the entire inner circumference of the closure. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the diameter of the extension portion of the tamper-evident band is less than the diameter of the A-collar before mating engagement with the container. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the extension portion of the tamper-evident band abuts an interior surface of the polymeric annular skirt portion and abuts the exterior surface of the A-collar. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the extension portion is spaced from the interior surface of the annular skirt portion before mating engagement with the container. 
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the extension portion is of a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the first portion of the polymeric tamper-evident bands forms an inwardly-extending bead to prevent or inhibit the tab portion and the extension portion from being vertical. 
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the entire extension portion is closer to the polymeric top portion than the frangible connection. 
     
     
         31 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is of a uniform thickness, the diameter of the extension portion varying. 
     
     
         32 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the polymeric tamper-evident bands forms an inwardly-extending bead to prevent or inhibit the tab portion and the extension portion from being vertical. 
     
     
         33 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the entire extension portion remains closer to the polymeric top portion than the frangible connection. 
     
     
         34 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein the extension portion is of a uniform thickness, the diameter of the extension portion varying. 
     
     
         35 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the polymeric tamper-evident bands forms an inwardly-extending bead to prevent or inhibit the tab portion and the extension portion from being vertical. 
     
     
         36 . The closure of  claim 14 , wherein the entire extension portion remains closer to the polymeric top portion than the frangible connection.