United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,056,675
`
`
`Julian
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Oct. 15, 1991
`
`4530.436 7/ 1985 Wiedmer
`4,545,496 10/ 1985 Wilde et al.
`4,548,329 10/1985 Curry ..........
`4,555,295
`1/1935 M0,] C1 a1_
`..
`2’2§Z'SZ§ 22333 EZ§‘L‘;‘,;;;';;";1‘.
`"" N
`4,720,018
`1/1988 Schetzsle etal. ..
`4»3°5»792
`2/1939 Le-Cinskiv 5r-
`--------------------- -- 215/253
`
`
`
`215/246
`215/252
`215/216
`215/252
`313233
`
`Primary Exam1'ner——Stephen Marcus
`Assistant Examirzer———Pau1 Schwarz
`Attorney’ Agent’ or Fl-rm___Gifford’ Groh’ Sprinkle,
`Patmore and Anderson
`
`[54] TETHER WEB RATCHET DRIVE TAMPER
`1ND]CAT1N(; BAND CL0gURE
`
`.
`[75]
`Inventor: Randall K. Julian, Evansville, Ind.
`1731 A-ssienee=
`Sunbeam Plastics Corporation,
`EV‘m5"“1°’I“d-
`[21] Appl. No.: 544,013
`
`[22] Ffled;
`
`Jam 13, 1991
`
`Int. Cl.5 .............................................. B65D 41/34
`[51]
`
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`.. ..... .. ...
`. .. .. .. ... 215/252
`[58] Field of Search .............................. .. 215/252, 256
`
`References Cited
`Us PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3’310'191
`3/1967 Kc” '3‘ 31'
`'
`3,415,403 12/1968 Bardell .
`3,650,428
`3/1972 Miller '
`3,874,540 4/1975 Hidding __
`3,904,052 9/1975 G,-ussen __
`4,062,466 12/1977 Conti
`13; gold -------1
`,
`,
`CHIC CI 8 .
`3/1922 Hilaire .................. 215/252
`4,346,811
`4,394,918
`7/1983 Grussen ............ ..
`215/243
`4,432,461 2/ 1984 Mumford et al.
`..
`4,448,318
`5/1984 Lowe ................................ .. 215/252
`
`215/252
`215/250
`.... .. 215/252
`
`
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`tamperkin1c1li1catilng closurle Cfibr appliiation tota cond-
`amer nec .
`ec osure1nc u esaca
`avm a 0 an
`an internally threaded skirt. A tamptlejr indiciting ‘hand
`d
`d f
`h b
`.
`.
`epen s rom t e ottom of the cap skirt by circumfer-
`enually spaced frangible connections. The band has
`ratchet teeth which engage ratchet teeth on the con-
`tainer neck, and a permanent tether rib connects the _
`band to the cap so that the band remains with the cap
`'
`'
`whin the °1°5"re ‘S "mhreaded mm the °°"““"‘"
`"CC '
`
`11 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`
`Page 1 of 7
`
`[56]
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`Page 1 of 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 15,1991 *
`
`Sheet 1 of2
`
`- 5,056,675
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`
`Page 2 of 7
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`Page 2 of 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 15, 1991 "
`
`Sheet2 of2
`
`» 5,056,675
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`
`Page 3 of 7
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`Page 3 of 7
`
`

`
`1
`
`5,056,675
`
`TETHER WEB RATCHET DRIVE TAMPER
`INDICATING BAND CLOSURE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to tamper indicating closures
`for application to container necks. The tamper indicat-
`ing feature indicates that the closure has been previ-
`ously removed or an attempt has been made to remove
`it from the container. More particularly, this invention
`relates to a tamper indicating closure in which a tamper
`indicating band depends from the bottom of the cap
`skirt by spaced frangible webs. The band has a stop
`which coacts with a stop on the container neck so that
`as the closure cap is being unthreaded from the con-
`tainer neck the tamper indicating band is restrained
`against axial or rotational movement causing fracture of
`the frangible webs and separation of the band from the
`cap.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`At the present time, one of the most commonly used
`stop device for restraining the movement of the tamper
`indicating band on the container neck relative to the cap
`has been the provision of an inwardly directed bead on
`the tamper indicating band which coacts with an out-
`wardly directed flange on the container neck. In the
`process of threading the cap onto the container neck the
`bead on the tamper indicating band snaps over the
`flange on the container neck. In the unthreading process
`the bead is restrained against axial motion by the con-
`tainer flange so that the frangible webs between the
`bottom of the cap skirt and the top of the tamper indi-
`cating band are fractured primarily in tension. There are
`many shortcomings with this type of tamper indicating
`band restraint. Among these are skewing of the band so
`that not all of the tamper indicating webs are broken
`during the unthreading process. This type of difficulty
`can be obviated by changing the stops to cooperating
`ratchet teeth on the tamper indicating band and con-
`tainer neck. In the unthreading direction, radial stop
`surfaces on the band ratchet teeth abut radial stop sur-
`faces on the container neck ratchet teeth. The frangible
`webs are thus caused to fracture primarily in shear since
`the band does not rotate with the cap.
`In many instances it is desirable to remove the sev-
`ered tamper indicating band with the cap rather than
`have the band remain on the container neck. For exam-
`ple in the case of reusable bottles, it is desirable to re-
`move the tamper indicating band from the container
`neck so that it will not require additional processing
`steps in the bottling operation. Likewise, when the clo-
`sure is applied to a plastic quart oil container, it is desir-
`able to remove the band with the cap to eliminate the
`possibility of the band sliding off the container neck and
`into the engine crank case when the container is in-
`verted to allow oil to flow from the container. In the
`past the retention of the tamper indicating band with the
`cap has been accomplished with closures of the snap
`over bead/flange design. When cooperating ratchet
`teeth have been used, the band has either been left on
`the container neck or it has been removed separately as
`a tear strip before there is any attempt to unthread the
`cap from the container neck.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention eliminates many of the difficul-
`ties encountered in the prior art structures such as the
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`incomplete fracture of all of the frangible webs during
`removal of the closure from the container neck which
`can occur in a snap over bead/flange design. This is
`accomplished in a cooperating ratchet
`teeth design
`utilizing a permanent tether rib and providing a unique
`movement of the tamper indicating band relative to the
`cap while the closure is being unthreaded from the
`container neck.
`
`The present invention contemplates a closure design
`in which the tamper indicating band is removed with
`the cap after the telltale severence or partial severence
`of the band takes places during the initial unthreading.
`Uniquely a flexible permanent rib or web provides rela-
`tive movement between the cap and the tamper indicat-
`ing band after the ratchet teeth have become engaged,
`and this permanent rib provides the means for tethering
`the band to the cap so that the band is removed and
`remains with the cap when the closure has been un-
`threaded. The relative movement first produces frac-
`ture of the frangible connections or webs between the
`tamper indicating band and the cap followed by frac-
`ture of the band allowing it to open up for complete
`removal of the cap and band from the container neck.
`The invention provides a tamper indicating closure
`for use on a container having a threaded neck with
`circumferentially spaced ratchet
`teeth below the
`threads. The closure includes a cap with a top and a
`depending annular skirt which has threads for engaging
`the container neck threads. A tamper indicating band is
`connected to the bottom of the cap skirt by a number of
`circumferentially spaced frangible connections. These
`connections usually take the form of a flexible web of
`fmite length. The band contains a number of circumfer-
`entially spaced ratchet teeth which engage correspond-
`ing ratchet teeth on the container neck. The band has an
`axially or vertically extending frangible area and a per-
`manent tether rib connects the band to the bottom of the
`cap skirt downstream from the frangible area in the
`direction of unthreading.
`As the closure is being unthreaded from the container
`neck,
`the band ratchet
`teeth engage the container
`ratchet teeth to stop relative rotation between the band
`and the container neck. Pliant means associated with
`the permanent tether rib permits continuing rotation of
`the cap so that first the frangible connections will be
`fractured, and then the band will fracture at the axially
`extending frangible area allowing the band to open up
`and the cap to be completely unthreaded from the con-
`tainer neck with the band remaining tethered to the cap
`by the permanent tether rib.
`The axially or vertically extending frangible area on
`the tamper indicating band can take the form of a single
`vertical score or spaced overlapping scores, or the band
`can have an area of reduced height and width forming
`a membrane or the like. In a preferred embodiment of
`the invention, the frangible reduced height and width
`area includes a single or a pair of circumferentially
`extending frangible webs.
`the
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
`tamper no indicating band has a larger diameter than
`the annular cap skirt, and the pliant means includes
`making the permanent tether rib flexible with a radially
`extending portion which is attached to the cap skirt and
`an axially extending portion connected to the tamper
`indicating band. Preferably the axially extending por-
`tion of the flexible permanent rib is connected adjacent
`to the bottom of the tamper indicating band with the
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
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`Page 4 of 7
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`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`Page 4 of 7
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`

`
`5,056,675
`
`5
`
`l0
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`20
`
`3
`pliant means including an axially extending relief slot in
`the band extending upward from the point of connec-
`tion The slot is on the downstream side of the tether rib
`in the direction of cap unthreading. This allows circum-
`ferential freedom of movement between the permanent
`flexible tether rib and the band allowing the rib to flex
`as the cap is turned relative to the stationary band.
`In another preferred embodiment of the invention,
`the pliant means for supplying movement of the tamper
`indicating band, after ratchet teeth engagement, takes
`the form of a circumferentially extending strap or pair
`of straps joining the downstream side of the permanent
`tether web to the band. This allows the tamper indicat-
`ing band to remain tethered to the cap when the cap is
`completely removed from the container neck even if 15
`the permanent tether web is rigid. Again, an axially
`extending frangible area is provided on the band up-
`steam from the permanent tether web which can take
`the form of a circumferentially extending frangible web
`so that the band will open up to allow continuing un-
`threading and removal of the closure from the container
`neck with the band remaining tethered to the cap.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`The preferred embodiments of the invention are illus-
`trated in the drawing in which:
`FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the closure
`of this invention as it will be threaded on to a container
`neck with a portion of the closure broken away to show
`the preferred shape of the cap skirt and the depending
`tamper indicating band as it is connected to the bottom
`of the cap skirt by frangible connections or webs. The
`perspective View shows the configuration of a perma-
`nent tether rib as it extends radially outward and down-
`ward from the bottom of the cap skirt to the tamper
`indicating band to provide relative movement between
`the cap and the tamper indicating band when the clo-
`sure is being unthreaded and ratchet teeth on the tamper
`indicating band (only one of which is shown in the cut
`away portion of the closure) engage ratchet teeth on the
`container neck;
`FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2
`in FIG. 1 showing the tamper indicating band and its
`ratchet teeth in relationship to the lower portion of the
`cap skirt with circumferentially spaced frangible webs
`connecting the cap skirt to the tamper indicating band;
`I FIG. 3-6 are partial elevational views taken in the
`direction of line 3-3 in FIG. 2 showing the axially or
`vertically extending frangible area of the tamper indi-
`cating band, in the form of an area of reduced height
`and width in the band creating a pair of circumferen-
`tially extending frangible webs, a flexible permanent
`tether rib and two of the axially extending frangible
`connections in the form of frangible webs joining the
`cap skirt to the tamper indicating band, from the tight-
`ened condition of the closure on the container neck
`through successive stages of unthreading of the closure;
`the further showing in these FIGS. being as follows:
`FIG. 3 shows the closure when the cap has been fully
`tightened on to the container neck with no stress being
`introduced into the axial extending frangible webs, the
`permanent flexible tether rib, or the circumferentially
`extending frangible webs;
`FIG. 4 shows the closure when the cap has been
`unthreaded in the direction of the arrow past the point
`where the band ratchet teeth have engaged the con-
`tainer neck ratchet teeth holding the band stationary
`relative to the container neck with the permanent flexi-
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`ble tether rib having allowed such movement_ to the
`point where the axially extending frangible webs have
`been fractured;
`FIG. 5 shows the closure when the cap has been
`further unthreaded further stretching the circumferen-
`tially extending frangible webs with the permanent
`flexible tether rib reaching its movement limit;
`FIG. 6 shows the closure when the cap has been
`unthreaded to the point where the circumferentially
`extending frangible webs have been fractured;
`FIG. 7 is a perspective View of the closure with the
`tamper indicating band opened up but remaining teth-
`ered to the bottom of the cap skirt so that the closure
`can be completely unthreaded from the container neck;
`and
`
`FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment
`of the closure of this invention in which the permanent
`tether web is rigid, and flexibility is provided for move-
`ment of the cap relative to the tamper indicating band
`after the ratchet teeth engagement by circumferentially
`extending flexible straps.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFFERED EMBODIMENT OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, the closure 10 of this invention is
`shown as including a cap 12 having a top 14 and an
`annular skirt 16 depending from the periphery of the
`top. The skirt has internal threads 18 which engage
`external threads 20 on the neck 22 of container 24. Cap
`12 has a sealing gasket 26 which is compressed between
`the top 14 and the lip 28 of the container neck. Other
`suitable sealing means can be used.
`Closure 10 has a tamper indicating band 30 which
`depends from the enlarged diameter bottom 32 of cap
`skirt 16 by circumferentially spaced frangible connec-
`tions or webs 34. As can be seen in FIG. 2 there are
`seven axially extending frangible webs which are cir-
`cumferentially spaced around the periphery of the clo-
`sure but not necessarily evenly spaced. The number of
`webs used can be varied for different applications and
`sizes of closures.
`
`The tamper indicating band 30 is also permanently
`attached to the bottom 32 of cap skirt 16 by a flexible
`permanent tether rib or web 36 which has a horizontally
`or radially extending portion 38 and an axially or verti-
`cally extending portion 40 to provide the desired flex-
`ure in combination with an adjacent axially extending
`relief slot 42 in the tamper indicating band 30 down-
`stream of the flexible permanent tether rib web 36 in the
`direction of cap unthreading.
`The band 30 has an axially or vertically extending
`frangible area or section 44 adjacent to and upstream
`from the flexible permanent web 36. This frangible area
`can be a reduced thickness portion of the band created,
`for example, by a continuous score line or by two or
`more closely adjacent discontinuous score lines. In the
`embodiments illustrated,
`the band 30 has a reduced
`cross section or reduced width and height at 44 creating
`a pair of frangible webs 50.
`The tamper indicating band 30 has a number of
`spaced inwardly directed ratchet teeth 52. Four equally
`spaced ratchet teeth are shown. Although functionally,
`a single ratchet tooth is sufflcient, typically two to eight
`ratchet teeth are provided, depending on the applica-
`tion and size of the closure, and these teeth engage an
`equal number of ratchet teeth on the container neck.
`Each tooth has a radial stop surface 54 and a sloped
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`
`Page 5 of 7
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`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`Page 5 of 7
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`

`
`5,056,675
`
`6
`In the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 8 pliancy
`in the tether connection of the cap and tamper indicat-
`ing band is not obtained in the flexibility and configura-
`tion of the tether rib 36 itself but rather in the connec-
`tion of the tether rib to the band. The axially extending
`frangible area 44 in the band is created in the same
`manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7 by the circum-
`ferentially extending frangible webs 50 which attach to
`the upstream side 46 of the permanent tether rib 36. The
`downstream side 48 of tether web 36 is connected to the
`tamper indicating band 30 by a pair of circumferentially
`extending flexible straps 64. Thus the straps 64 provide
`the pliant means for rotation of the cap 14 relative to the
`stationary tamper indicating band 30 for sequential frac-
`ture of the axially extending frangible webs 34 simulta-
`neously followed by fracture of the circumferentially
`extending frangible webs 50.
`All the embodiments of the invention whether specif-
`ically delineated or not maintain the tethering of the
`tamper indicating band with the cap while providing
`the sure arresting of the band relative to the container
`neck bycooperating ratchet teeth.
`The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu-
`sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as
`follows:
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`5
`ramp surface 56. The container neck 22 has an equal
`number of ratchet teeth 58 located below the external
`thread 20 with each having a corresponding radial stop
`surface 60 and a sloped ramp surface 62.
`As with a conventional tamper indicating closure
`having a depending tamper indicating band with ratchet
`teeth for engagement with ratchet teeth on a container
`neck, when the cap of the closure 10 is being threaded
`onto the container neck 22, the ramp surfaces 56 of the
`band ratchet teeth 52 will engage the ramp surfaces 62
`of the container neck ratchet teeth 58 to permit the band
`ratchet teeth 52 to pass over the container neck ratchet
`teeth 58. Likewise,
`in the unthreading direction, the
`stop surfaces 54 of the band ratchet teeth 52 will engage
`the stop surfaces 60 of the container neck ratchet teeth
`58 to prevent further rotation of the tamper indicating
`band 30 relative to the container 24. The permanent
`flexible tether rib 36 and its adjacent relief slot 42 allows
`the cap 12 to be further rotated in the unthreading di-
`rection while the tamper indicating band 30 remains
`stationary relative to the container neck. FIG. 3 shows
`the condition of the flexible permanent tether rib 36 and
`the frangible webs 34 and 50 when the closure 10 is in its
`fully tightened position on the container neck through
`to the point in which the closure has been rotated so
`1. A tamper indicating closure for use on a container
`that the band stop surfaces have engaged the container
`having a threaded neck with circumferentially spaced
`neck stop surfaces 60. At this point there has been no
`ratchet teeth below the threads, said closure compris-
`stress introduced into the band,
`flexible permanent
`mg:
`tether rib or the frangible webs.
`a cap with a to and a de ending annular skirt having
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`threads for ciiigaging the container neck threads;
`smce the tamper mdlcanllg band 301?“) remain “Fm”
`3 tamper indlcatlng band connected to the bottom of
`ered to the cap '12, the flexible tether rib 36 must yield
`said cap skln by a plurality of circumferentially
`enough to provide movement of the cap 12 relative to
`spaced frangible connections;
`the band 30 for fracture of all the axially extending
`a plurality of circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth
`frmlglble webs
`f°n°w_ed by fracture of the cucumfep 35
`on said band for engagement with ratchet teeth on
`“many eftendmg fmnglble webs 50;
`_
`the container neck;
`Referring to FIG. 4 as the cap 12 is further turned in
`said band having an axlally extendlng frangible area;
`the unthreading direction after the band ratchet teeth 52
`a permanent tether rib connectlng said band to the
`have engaged thelcontainer neck ratchet teeth 58, the
`bottom of Said cap skim Said rib being located
`band 30 will remain stationary with respect to the con- 40
`downstream from said frangible area in the dire‘,
`tamer neck, but the cap will turn relative to the band so
`tion of cap unthreading; and
`that the permanent flexible tether rib 36 will flex or
`pliant means associated with Said tether rib which
`become distorted allowing this relative movement until
`allows relative rotation between said cap and said
`the anally Cxtcndlng frangible W°b5 34 W111 b€°°m°
`band;
`fractured as shown at 34’. Also the circumferentially 45
`wherein as tho closure is bang umhl-eaded from the
`extending webs 50 will be flexed, but very little tension
`container neck, the band ratchet teeth engage the
`will be aPP1i€d 10 them during this initial I013-n0“ P35‘
`Container neck ratchet teeth to stop remive ,-Ola-
`the point of ratchet teeth engagement. The sector of the
`tion between the band and the container neck, and
`tamper indicating band 30 between the band ratchet
`said pliant means permits continuing rotation of
`tooth 52 trailing the permanent flexible tether rib 36 and 50
`Said cap which causes fractm-3 of said frangible
`the rib 36 itself is free to flex from its initial arcuate
`connections with substantially no axial
`tension
`Shape to 3 01101"C131 Shape 01' I0 3 Pail’ Of Chords With an
`applied to O1-axialsn-etching of Said frangible con-
`intermediate arc of a smaller radius against the con-
`nections follgwed
`fracture Qf Said axially ex-
`CZIIICI l'l6Cl( thl.lS pI'0Vldl.l'lg SOIHC Sl3.Ck
`that SCCIOF.
`tending frangible area allowing the band to open up
`Continuing rotation in the dll’CCtlOl’l Of the arrow as 55
`and the cap to be complgtely unthreaded from the
`Sl1OWl’l in FIG. 5 Will further flex the permanent flexible
`container neck with the band remaining tethered to
`web 36 so that the relief provided by slot 42 will be
`said cap through said permanent tether rib.
`taken up and the edge of the permanent web will
`2. The tamper indicating closure according to claim 1
`contact the upper portion of the band, as shown at 64,
`acting as a stop for this movement. The circumferen- 60 wherein said tamper indicating band has a larger diame-
`tially extending frangible webs 50 will now be put under
`ter than said annular skirt and said pliant means includes
`fracturing tension so that additional rotation of the cap
`providing said permanent rib with flexibility and a radi-
`in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 6 will
`ally extending portion attached to said cap skirt and an
`fracture these webs as shown at 50’.
`axially extending portion connected to said tamper indi-
`Fracture of the circumferentially extending webs 50
`cating band.
`as shown at 50’ in FIGS. 6 and 7 allow the band to open
`3. The tamper indicating closure according to claim 2
`up so that the closure 10 can be easily completely un-
`wherein the axially extending portion of said permanent
`threaded from the container neck as shown in FIG. 7.
`tether rib is connected adjacent the bottom of said
`
`30
`
`65
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
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`Page 6 of 7
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`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
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`

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`5,056,675
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`7
`tamper indicating band and said pliant means further
`includes an axially extending relief slot in said band
`extending upward from the point of connection.
`4. The tamper indicating closure according to claim 1
`wherein said axially extending frangible area includes
`an area of reduced height and width with at least one
`circumferentially extending frangible web adjacent and
`upstream from said permanent tether rib in the direction
`of cap unthreading.
`5. The tamper indicating closure according to claim 4
`wherein said pliant means includes an area of reduced
`height and width with at least one circumferentially
`extending permanent flexible strap contiguous to the
`downstream side in the direction of cap unthreading of
`said permanent tether rib.
`6. A tamper indicating closure for use on a container
`having a threaded neck with circumferentially spaced
`ratchet teeth below the threads, said closure compris-
`mg:
`a cap with a top and a depending annular skirt having
`threads for engaging the container neck threads;
`a tamper indicating band connected to the bottom of
`said cap skirt by a plurality of circumferentially
`spaced frangible connections;
`a plurality of circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth
`on said band for engagement with ratchet teeth on
`the container neck;
`said band having an axially extending frangible area;
`and
`
`a flexible permanent tether rib connecting said band
`to the bottom of said cap skirt, said rib being lo-
`cated adjacent and downstream from said frangible
`area in the direction of cap unthreading allowing
`relative rotation between said cap and said band;
`wherein as the closure is being unthreaded from the
`container neck, the band ratchet teeth engage the
`container neck ratchet teeth to stop relative rota-
`tion between the band and the container neck, and
`flexure of said flexible permanent tether rib permits
`continuing rotation of said cap which causes frac-
`ture of said frangible connections with substantially
`no axial tension applied to or axial stretching of
`said frangible connections followed by fracture of
`said axially extending frangible area allowing the
`band to open up and the cap to be completely un-
`threaded from the container neck with the band
`
`remaining tethered to said cap by said flexible per-
`manent tether rib.
`
`7. The tamper indicating closure according to claim 6
`wherein said axially extending frangible area includes
`an area of reduced height and width with at least on
`circumferentially extending frangible web upstream
`from said flexible permanent tether rib in the direction
`of cap unthreading.
`
`8
`8. The tamper indicating closure according to claim 6
`wherein said tamper indicating band has a larger diame-
`ter than said armular skirt and said flexible permanent
`tether rib has a radially extending portion attached to
`said cap skirt and an axially extending portion con-
`nected to said tamper indicating band.
`9. The tamper indicating closure according to claim 8
`wherein the axially extending portion of said flexible
`permanent tether rib is connected adjacent the bottom
`of said tamper indicating band with an axially extending
`relief slot ir1 said band extending upward from the point
`of connection.
`10. A tamper indicating closure for use on a container
`having a threaded neck with circumferentially spaced
`ratchet teeth below the threads, said closure compris-
`mg:
`a cap with a top and a depending annular skirt having
`threads for engaging the container neck threads;
`a tamper indicating band connected to the bottom of
`said cap skirt by a plurality of circumferentially
`spaced frangible connections;
`a plurality of circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth
`on said band for engagement with ratchet teeth on
`the container neck;
`a permanent tether rib connecting said band to the
`bottom of said cap skirt, said rib having an up-
`stream and downstream side in the direction of cap
`unthreading, said downstream side being con-
`nected to said band by a circumferentially extend-
`ing permanent flexible strap which allow relative
`rotation between said cap and said band and said
`upstream side being connected to said band by at
`least one or more circumferentially extending fran-
`gible webs.
`wherein as the closure is being unthreaded from the
`container neck, the band ratchet teeth engage the
`container neck ratchet teeth to stop relative rota-
`tion between the band and the container neck, and
`said flexible strap permits continuing rotation of
`said cap which causes fracture of said frangible
`connections with substantially no axial
`tension
`applied to or axial stretching of said frangible con-
`nections followed by fracture of said circumferen-
`tially extending frangible webs allowing the band
`to open up and the cap to be completely un-
`threaded from the container neck with the band
`remaining tethered to said cap through said penna-
`nent tether rib and flexible strap.
`11. The tamper indicating closure according to claim
`10 wherein the downstream side of said rib is connected
`to said band by a pair of axially spaced circumferentially
`extending permanent flexible straps and the upstream
`side of said rib is connected to said band by a pair of
`axially spaced circumferentially extending frangible
`webs.
`t
`8
`t
`II
`t
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`
`Page 7 of 7
`
`KSP EXHIBIT 1003
`Page 7 of 7