Closure with Tamper-Evidencing Lift Tab

Abstract

A closure includes a cap having a top wall and a skirt perpendicular to the top wall and extending downwardly from the top wall to a lower edge. The skirt includes an inner surface having a sealing formation. A band is concentric with and attached to the lower edge of the skirt by a plurality of frangible members. A tab is pivotally connected to an upper portion of the closure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure comprising:
 a top panel comprising an upper surface and a lower surface;   a rotational axis about which the top panel is centered;   a cylindrical wall extending from the lower surface of the top panel to a lower edge of the cylindrical wall, an inner surface of the cylindrical wall facing towards the rotational axis;   a retention band pivotally coupled to the top panel and the cylindrical wall;   a line of weakness that separates the cylindrical wall and the retention band, the line of weakness extending circumferentially around the closure from a first end to a second end;   a plurality of frangible members extending across the line of weakness to couple the cylindrical wall and the retention band;   a hinge located between the first end and the second end of the line of weakness, the hinge pivotally coupling the retention band and the top panel; and   a tab pivotally coupled to the top panel opposite the hinge with respect to the rotational axis, the tab attached to the retention band by a tab frangible member that is distinct from the plurality of frangible members, the tab frangible member providing a visual indication, when broken, that the tab has been opened.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tab comprises an arcuate wall extending downward from the top panel and circumferentially extending around the rotational axis, the arcuate wall comprising an upper portion defining a first thickness and a middle portion defining a second thickness greater than the first thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , the middle portion comprising:
 an upper surface facing towards the top panel and the rotational axis; and   a lower surface facing towards the rotational axis and away from the top panel.   
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein the middle portion interfaces with a first projection on a neck of a container the closure is affixed to, the first projection of the container extending radially away from the rotational axis. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the middle portion interfaces with a first projection on a neck of a container the closure is affixed to, the first projection of the container extending radially away from the rotational axis. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein the interface between the middle portion of the tab and the first projection of the container restricts the top panel from pivoting relative to the retention band. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is separated from the retention band by the line of weakness, and the tab frangible member extends across the line of weakness. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure is formed from a first material including low-density polyethylene. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is frangibly coupled to the retention band by a plurality of tab frangible members, which are distinct from the plurality of frangible members that attach the cylindrical wall to the retention band. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge is circumferentially surrounded on opposing sides by two vertical gaps that extend downward from the top panel. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the two vertical gaps extend from the top panel to the line of weakness. 
     
     
         12 . A closure for coupling to a container neck, the closure comprising:
 a top panel comprising an upper surface and a lower surface;   a rotational axis about which the top panel is centered;   a cylindrical wall extending from the lower surface of the top panel to a lower edge of the cylindrical wall, an inner surface of the cylindrical wall facing towards the rotational axis;   a retention band pivotally coupled to the top panel and the cylindrical wall;   a line of weakness that separates the cylindrical wall and the retention band, the line of weakness extending circumferentially around the closure from a first end to a second end;   a plurality of frangible members extending across the line of weakness to couple the cylindrical wall and the retention band;   a hinge located between the first end and the second end of the line of weakness, the hinge pivotally coupling the retention band and the top panel; and   a tab pivotally coupled to the top panel opposite the hinge with respect to the rotational axis, the tab comprising a detent that projects inwardly towards the rotational axis and that interfaces against an extension extending from a container neck of a container away from the rotational axis.   
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge is circumferentially surrounded on opposing sides by two vertical gaps that extend downward from the top panel, and wherein the two vertical gaps extend from the top panel to the line of weakness. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 12 , wherein the tab is frangibly coupled to the retention band by a plurality of tab frangible members, which are distinct from the plurality of frangible members that attach the cylindrical wall to the retention band. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 12 , wherein the tab comprises an arcuate wall extending downward from the top panel and that circumferentially extends around the rotational axis, the arcuate wall comprising an upper portion defining a first thickness and a middle portion below the upper portion, the middle portion defining a second thickness greater than the first thickness. 
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 15 , wherein the middle portion comprises the detent that interfaces against the extension extending from the container neck. 
     
     
         17 . A closure comprising:
 a top panel comprising an upper surface and a lower surface;   a rotational axis about which the top panel is centered;   a cylindrical wall extending from the lower surface of the top panel to a lower edge of the cylindrical wall, an inner surface of the cylindrical wall facing towards the rotational axis;   a retention band pivotally coupled to the top panel and the cylindrical wall;   a line of weakness that separates the cylindrical wall and the retention band, the line of weakness extending circumferentially around the closure from a first end to a second end;   a plurality of frangible members extending across the line of weakness to couple the cylindrical wall and the retention band;   a hinge located between the first end and the second end of the line of weakness, the hinge pivotally coupling the retention band and the top panel; and   a tab coupled to the top panel opposite the hinge with respect to the rotational axis, the tab attached to the retention band by a tab frangible member that is distinct from the plurality of frangible members, the tab restricting pivoting of the top panel relative to the retention band as a result of the tab frangible member being unbroken.   
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 17 , wherein the hinge is circumferentially surrounded on opposing sides by two vertical gaps that extend downward from the top panel, and wherein the two vertical gaps extend from the top panel to the line of weakness. 
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 17 , wherein the tab is frangibly coupled to the retention band by a plurality of tab frangible members, which are distinct from the plurality of frangible members that attach the cylindrical wall to the retention band. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 17 , wherein the tab comprises an arcuate wall extending downward from the top panel and that circumferentially extends around the rotational axis, the arcuate wall comprising an upper portion defining a first thickness and a middle portion defining a second thickness greater than the first thickness.