Tamper-indicating closure
US6179139A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S215/901
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This relates to the provision of a button type closure with a tamper-indicating element that visually indicates when a container has been opened. A deflectable button on an actuator panel is utilized to fracture a disk of brittle material situated between the button and a rigid transparent plastic holder into which the actuator panel and brittle disk are inserted. The plastic holder not only carries the actuator panel and brittle disk, but it also has provisions to hold the deflectable button in its down position by pressing the down button tightly against a rib on the underside of the holder, thus holding the deflectable button in the down position before the closure is applied to a container. When the closure is applied to a container the container finish deforms a region on the actuator panel adjacent to the button, decreasing the overall height of the actuator panel, so that after application of the closure to a container, only the container finish is pressing the down button tightly against the rib on the underside of the holder, thus continuing to prevent the button from popping up. Upon opening the package, the separation of the actuator panel and container finish permits th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.