Snap Cap with Tamper Evidence

Abstract

A closure with a top panel, a skirt extending downward and away from the top panel, frangible connections that connect the skirt to a tamper band. The frangible connections provide a visual indication, when broken, that the closure has been opened. The closure includes a cap and a base that remain coupled via a hinge after the frangible connections are broken.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure comprising:
 a cap comprising:
 a top panel centered about a vertical axis and comprising an outer periphery; and 
 a first skirt extending downward and away from the outer periphery of the top panel, the first skirt comprising a first inner surface; 
   a hinge coupled to a rear of the first skirt;   a base pivotally coupled to the first skirt via the hinge, wherein the cap pivotally actuates with respect to the base between a closed position and an open position;   a line of weakness extending circumferentially around the vertical axis between the first skirt and the base, wherein the line of weakness includes a front portion that extends linearly and circumferentially laterally with respect to the vertical axis, and rear portions extending between the front portion and the hinge, wherein the rear portions extend upward and circumferentially away from the front portion to the hinge; and   a plurality of frangible connections extending across the line of weakness, the plurality of frangible connections providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portions extend linearly between the front portion and the hinge. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the rear portions extend circumferentially around the closure at least 50 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the rear portions extend circumferentially around the closure between 60 degrees and 150 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the rear portions extend circumferentially around the closure no more than 130 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein the front portion extends circumferentially at least 180 degrees around the closure with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion extends circumferentially at least 180 degrees around the closure with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion extends circumferentially around the closure between 180 degrees and 270 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         9 . A closure comprising:
 a cap comprising:
 a top panel centered about a vertical axis and comprising an outer periphery; and 
 a first skirt extending downward and away from the outer periphery of the top panel, the first skirt comprising a first inner surface; 
   a hinge coupled to a rear of the first skirt;   a base pivotally coupled to the first skirt via the hinge, wherein the cap pivotally actuates with respect to the base about a rotation axis between a closed position and an open position, wherein the rotation axis is located a first distance below the top panel;   a line of weakness extending circumferentially around the vertical axis between the first skirt and the base, wherein the line of weakness includes a front portion opposite the hinge with respect to the vertical axis, and wherein the line of weakness opposite the hinge with respect to the vertical axis defines a second distance from the top panel, and wherein first distance is no more than 90% of second distance; and   a plurality of frangible connections extending across the line of weakness, the plurality of frangible connections providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened.   
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 9 , wherein the line of weakness includes rear portions extending between the front portion and the hinge, wherein the rear portions extend upward and circumferentially away from the front portion to the hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the rear portions extend linearly between the front portion and the hinge. 
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the rear portions extend circumferentially around the closure at least 50 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , wherein the rear portions extend circumferentially around the closure no more than 150 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 9 , wherein the front portion extends circumferentially at least 180 degrees around the closure with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 9 , wherein the first distance is between 50% and 80% of the second distance. 
     
     
         16 . A closure comprising:
 a cap comprising:
 a top panel centered about a vertical axis and comprising an outer periphery; and 
 a first skirt extending downward and away from the outer periphery of the top panel, the first skirt comprising a first inner surface; 
   a hinge coupled to a rear of the first skirt;   a base pivotally coupled to the first skirt via the hinge, wherein the cap pivotally actuates with respect to the base between a closed position and an open position;   a line of weakness extending circumferentially around the vertical axis between the first skirt and the base;   a plurality of frangible connections extending across the line of weakness, the plurality of frangible connections providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened; and   a first plurality of projections extending inwardly towards the vertical axis from one of the first skirt and the hinge, the first plurality of projections interfacing with a container neck the closure is coupled to when the cap is in the closed position, to bias the cap to remain in the closed position.   
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 16 , comprising a second plurality of projections extending inwardly towards the vertical axis from the base, the second plurality of projections interfacing with the container neck to bias the base to remain coupled to the container neck, wherein the second plurality of projections are further from the top panel than the first plurality of projections. 
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 16 , the first plurality of projections comprising a first projection extending inwardly from the base under the hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein the line of weakness includes a front portion that extends linearly and circumferentially laterally with respect to the vertical axis, and a rear portion extending between the front portion and the rear portion, wherein the rear portion extends upward and circumferentially away from the front portion to the hinge. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 19 , the first plurality of projections comprising a first projection extending inwardly from the base under the hinge.