Tamper-evident closure apparatus

摘要

A tamper indicating closure comprising a one-piece molded plastic closure which threads onto the finish of a container such that when the closure is removed from the container, a tamper indicating band becomes separated from a lower end of a cap member of the closure. The tamper indicating band is joined to the closure along a weakened frangible line. The band includes a flexible Y-shaped annular flap segmented into tabs and attached to the lower end of the annular tamper band. When the closure is applied to the container, the annular band folds radially inward and up toward the cap member. The interior surface of the band and the first leg of the annular band include corresponding ratchet teeth which are designed to accommodate a varying degree of finish tolerances and which engage upon removal of the cap from the container. A second leg of the annular flap extends outwardly beneath a peripheral bead on the finish of the container when the closure is fully attached. Upon removal of the closure from the container, the second leg abuts underneath the peripheral bead to create resistance. The ratchet teeth on the band and flap are caused to engage with one another while the first leg wedges between the outside edge of the peripheral bead and the skin of the cap member. Further removal of the closure causes the tamper indicating band to sever from the cap member along the weakened line.