Closure with Sequentially Breaking Connections

Abstract

A closure including a base and a cap that pivot with respect to each other. The front portion of each of the base and cap are detachably coupled together via a series of frangible connections that break sequentially when the closure is opened. The plurality of frangible connections have different configurations to increase a total amount of time between the time when the first frangible connection breaks and when the last frangible connection breaks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure comprising:
 an axis;   a top panel centered on the axis;   a first cylindrical wall extending downward from the top panel, the first cylindrical wall centered on the axis;   a hinge extending from and coupled to a rear portion of the first cylindrical wall;   a second cylindrical wall centered on the axis, the second cylindrical wall pivotally coupled to the first cylindrical wall via the hinge, the first cylindrical wall and top panel pivoting with respect to the second cylindrical wall via the hinge between an open position and a closed position;   a securing element extending from the second cylindrical wall, the securing element configured to couple the second cylindrical wall to a container neck of a container;   a first frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the first frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, the first frangible connection extending circumferentially around the axis a first circumferential distance; and   a second frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the second frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, wherein the second frangible connection is closer to the hinge than the first frangible connection, the second frangible connection extending circumferentially around the axis a second circumferential distance, and wherein the second circumferential distance is greater than the first circumferential distance.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , comprising a front pair of frangible connections including the first frangible connection, each of the front pair of frangible connections extending circumferentially around the axis the first circumferential distance. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , comprising a middle pair of frangible connections including the second frangible connection, each of the middle pair of frangible connections extending circumferentially around the axis the second circumferential distance. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , comprising a third frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the third frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, wherein the third frangible connection is closer to the hinge than each of the first frangible connection and the second frangible connection, the third frangible connection extending circumferentially around the axis a third circumferential distance, and wherein the third circumferential distance is greater than each of the first circumferential distance and the second circumferential distance. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , comprising a rear pair of frangible connections including the third frangible connection, each of the rear pair of frangible connections extending circumferentially around the axis the third circumferential distance. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1 , comprising a third frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the third frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, wherein the third frangible connection is closer to the hinge than each of the first frangible connection and the second frangible connection, the third frangible connection extending circumferentially around the axis a third circumferential distance, and wherein the third circumferential distance is greater than each of the first circumferential distance and the second circumferential distance. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , the closure comprising a plurality of frangible connections coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the plurality of frangible connections providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, each of the plurality of frangible connections extending a circumferential width with respect to the axis, wherein the respective circumferential width for each of the plurality of frangible connections is less than the respective circumferential width for each of the other plurality of plurality of frangible connections that are closer to the hinge. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of frangible connections comprises at least 6 frangible connections. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of frangible connections comprises at least 3 pairs of frangible connections, wherein the frangible connections of each of the pairs of frangible connections are the same circumferential distance from the hinge. 
     
     
         10 . A closure comprising:
 an axis;   a top panel centered on the axis;   a first cylindrical wall extending downward from the top panel, the first cylindrical wall centered on the axis;   a hinge extending from and coupled to a rear portion of the first cylindrical wall;   a second cylindrical wall centered on the axis, the second cylindrical wall pivotally coupled to the first cylindrical wall via the hinge, the first cylindrical wall and top panel pivoting with respect to the second cylindrical wall via the hinge between an open position and a closed position;   a securing element extending from the second cylindrical wall, the securing element configured to couple the second cylindrical wall to a container neck of a container;   a first frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the first frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, the first frangible connection defining a first radial thickness with respect to the axis; and   a second frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the second frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, wherein the second frangible connection is closer to the hinge than the first frangible connection, the second frangible connection defining a second radial thickness with respect to the axis, and wherein the second radial thickness is greater than the first radial thickness.   
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 10 , comprising a front pair of frangible connections including the first frangible connection, each of the front pair of frangible connections defining the first radial thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 11 , comprising a middle pair of frangible connections including the second frangible connection, each of the middle pair of frangible connections defining the second radial thickness. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , comprising a third frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the third frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, wherein the third frangible connection is closer to the hinge than each of the first frangible connection and the second frangible connection, the third frangible connection defining the third radial thickness with respect to the axis, and wherein the third radial thickness is greater than each of the first radial thickness and the second radial thickness. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 13 , comprising a rear pair of frangible connections including the third frangible connection, each of the rear pair of frangible connections defining the third radial thickness. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein plurality of frangible connections comprises at least 6 frangible connections. 
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 15 , wherein plurality of frangible connections comprises at least 3 pairs of frangible connections, wherein the frangible connections of each of the pairs of frangible connections are the same circumferential distance from the hinge. 
     
     
         17 . A closure comprising:
 an axis;   a top panel centered on the axis;   a first cylindrical wall extending downward from the top panel, the first cylindrical wall centered on the axis;   a hinge extending from and coupled to a rear portion of the first cylindrical wall;   a second cylindrical wall centered on the axis, the second cylindrical wall pivotally coupled to the first cylindrical wall via the hinge, the first cylindrical wall and top panel pivoting with respect to the second cylindrical wall via the hinge between an open position and a closed position;   a securing element extending from the second cylindrical wall, the securing element configured to couple the second cylindrical wall to a container neck of a container;   a first frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the first frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, the first frangible connection defining a first cross-section area; and   a second frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the second frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, wherein the second frangible connection is closer to the hinge than the first frangible connection, the second frangible connection defining a second cross-section area, and wherein the second cross-section area is greater than the first cross-section area.   
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 17 , comprising:
 a front pair of frangible connections including the first frangible connection, each of the front pair of frangible connections defining the first cross-section area;   a middle pair of frangible connections including the second frangible connection, each of the middle pair of frangible connections defining the second cross-section area.   
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 18 , comprising:
 a third frangible connection coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the third frangible connection providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, wherein the third frangible connection is closer to the hinge than each of the first frangible connection and the second frangible connection, the third frangible connection defining a third cross-section area, and wherein the third cross-section area is greater than each of the first cross-section area and the second cross-section area.   
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 16 , the closure comprising a plurality of frangible connections coupling the first cylindrical wall to the second cylindrical wall, the plurality of frangible connections providing evidence, when broken, that the closure has been opened, each of the plurality of frangible connections extending a circumferential width with respect to the axis, wherein the respective circumferential width for each of the plurality of frangible connections is less than the respective circumferential width for each of the other plurality of plurality of frangible connections that are closer to the hinge, wherein the plurality of frangible connections comprises at least 6 frangible connections.