GB609290A - Improvements in closures for bottles and like containers - Google Patents

Abstract

609,290. Tamper-proof closures for non-refillable &c. bottles &c. FAIRWEATHER, H. G. C. (Inter-Seal Corporation). March 11, 1946. No. 7556. [Classes 125 (i) and 125 (iii)] A closure to prevent illicit opening of bottles and like containers comprises an outer cap portion 14 provided with a skirt 19 which has an internal thread 20 for engagement with a corresponding thread 11 upon the bottle neck and an inner member 15 containing a valve arrangement V, W, a cork 18 being provided in the pouring outlet 17 of the closure. The inner member 15 has a flange 26 upon whose upper and lower surfaces respectively are formed sets of oppositely inclined ratchet-like teeth 27 and 28, the upper set 27 cooperating with a similar set 22 on the member 14, and the lower and smaller set 28 contacting a gasket 16 housed in the recess 21, 21<1> of member 14. When applying the closure, member 15 is caused to rotate with the part 14 by the engagement of teeth 22 and 27, teeth 28 sliding over the gasket until sufficient pressure is exerted by the member 14 upon the flange 26. On counterrotation of the portion 14, inclined surfaces 22' of the teeth 22 slide along similar surfaces 27' on teeth 27, and by virtue of their greater inclination than the pitch angle of the bottle thread, and the fact that member 15 is prevented from rotation by teeth 28 biting upon the gasket, an upward pressure is exerted until ultimately breakage of the skirt 19 occurs. In a modification, Fig. 7, which has no valve arrangement, the outer member 42 is weakened by opposing grooves 50, 51, in the crown, counter rotation in this case causing rupture along the weakened portion 52. In either case the gasket may be of material having a high coefficient of friction with the container, or mechanical means may be employed to prevent its rotation, such as a series of projections engaging similar depressions in the neck of the container.