20020411.

摘要

A tamper-evident structure for use in a resealable dispensing closure system includes a lid and a flexible, frangible tamper-evident member extending from the lid to a drop ring. The drop ring is adapted to engage a bottom end of a closure body in the closure system. Preferably, the lid, frangible tamper-evident member, and drop ring are provided as a unitary, integrally molded structure. In a preferred embodiment, the closure body can also be molded as a unitary part of the structure. The lid, frangible tamper-evident member and drop ring are assembled on the closure body by first installing the lid in a closed position on the closure body. The drop ring is then pivoted downward relative to the lid, thereby causing the frangible tamper-evident member to become disposed adjacent the closure body skirt. The drop ring is located at the bottom of the closure body. The system can then be installed on a container so that the drop ring locks under a bead or lip on the container. If the closure body is subsequently removed from the container, a part of the frangible tamper-evident member is severed because the drop ring is prohibited from moving upward as the closure body is removed. Moreover, if the lid is moved away from its closed position relative to the closure body when the closure body is still on the container, then another part of the frangible tamper-evident member is severed because the drop ring, and therefore the frangible tamper-evident member, are prohibited from moving upward. Thus, the single tamper-evident feature in the form of the frangible tamper-evident member provides evidence of tampering with 1) the closure body relative to the container, and 2) the lid relative to the closure body.