WO2015101541A1

WO2015101541A1 - Tamper-evident cap assembly for a container

Info

Publication number: WO2015101541A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/079034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Monteagle Browne
Original assignee: Ge Healthcare As
Priority date: 2013-12-31
Filing date: 2014-12-22
Publication date: 2015-07-09

Abstract

A cap assembly (110) which provides easy visual verification of cap integrity, a means (136) of venting the space between the top wall (130) of the cap and an underlying septum (145), or stopper, of a bottle to which the cap is attached, and a more comfortable means for removing a portion of the cap and a means for removing protective castellations (160).

Description

TAMPER-EVIDENT CAP ASSEMBLY FOR A CONTAINER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of container caps. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a tamper-evident container cap assembly.

Background of the Invention

In the medical field, sterile fluids, such as medicaments, pharmaceuticals, sterile saline solution and so on are frequently required for the treatment of patients. Such sterile fluids are normally supplied in containers made of plastic or glass, which is chemically inert and highly unlikely to contaminate or otherwise adulterate the sterile fluid.

The containers are normally closed by a rubber stopper inserted into the mouth of the container. The stopper is designed so that it can be pierced by a needle of a hypodermic syringe, an infusion spike of an infusion set, or the like, to allow the contents of the container to be withdrawn. The stopper may also be removed to allow the contents of the bottle to be poured out.

In order to hold the stopper in place, a cap assembly is often threaded over the stopper and the neck of the bottle. In order to gain access to the stopper, either to pierce it or remove it, the cap is either partially torn away or totally removed from the container neck. The art has seen various designs for a container cap assembly which may be secured to a container neck and thereby prevent exposure of the stopper until use of the fluid. Figure 1 shows a container cap assembly 10 of the prior art. Cap assembly 10 includes a cap 12 having an elongate cylindrical wall 14 having a planar end surface 16 spanning one end. Cylindrical wall supports an internally-extending helical thread (not shown) for screwing onto a mating thread on the neck of a container. Planar surface 16 includes a frangible lid 18 which when removed from cap 12 will expose a septum supported between the cap 12 and the neck of the container. Lid 18 further includes upstanding posts 20 which support a pull ring 22 to assist in the removal of lid 18. A castellation ring 24 attaches to cap 12, providing a number of crenellation segments 26 which extend at least as high as the pull ring 22 to protect against accidental engagement prior to removing lid 18. An indicia 25 is provided on lid 18 to indicate the direction of pulling lid 18 for ease of separation from the remainder of cap 12. Cap 12 further includes a number of radially-spaced outwardly projecting fittings 26 for engagement by user fingers when removing the cap from the container so as to fully expose or remove the septum closing the container. The tight spacing of pull ring 22 along lid 18 and between the crenellation segments 26 can be difficult or uncomfortable for some users.

The cap of Figure 1 is also provided with a tamper-evident ring 30 which is designed to remain with the container after cap 12 has been removed. Ring 30 defines a number of lug apertures 32 which allow a snap-fit to cooperating projecting lugs on the neck of the container. The projecting lugs of the container ensure that ring 30 remains in place as cap 12 is rotated off of the container. Such tamper-evident rings are widely in use on containers ranging from pharmaceutical liquid containers to soft drink bottles. A number of frangible bridge connectors 34 connect cap 12 to ring 30. Such bridge connectors 34 are typically made to be quite small and thin so that they structurally fail upon application of an opening force to the cap, that is, when the cap is to be removed from the container or bottle. However, if the bridge connectors are too small, it is difficult to determine whether they are still intact. With small bridges, it may be possible to remove the cap and then apply an adhesive to the broken bridges to re-secure the cap to the tamper-evident ring without being obvious upon a visual inspection. Moreover, if the bridge is too weak, the cap assembly may fail quality control by breaking during the application of the cap assembly to a container neck. Such failures may result in rejections, disturbances to logistics/planning, cost for retesting, cost for vandor complaints, line capping failures, line stoppage and high reject rates at finished product inspection. Additionally, if the bridge connectors are made too large, it is possible that they could withstand the opening force such that the tamper-evident ring will be removed from the container with the cap. In a worst case scenario, it could be possible for the container cap and/or both the cap and the tamper-evident ring to be removed from the container so as to expose the contents to withdrawal or

contamination, ie, tampering, and then placed back on the container without showing any obvious sign that the cap had been removed from the container.

The art therefor lacks a cap assembly which provides easy visual verification of cap integrity. The art also lacks a means of venting the space between the top wall of the cap and an underlying septum, or stopper, of a bottle to which the cap is attached. The art also lacks a more comfortable means for removing a portion of the cap and for removing protective caste llations. Summary of the Invention

In view of the needs of the art, the present invention provides a container cap assembly with improved tamper-evident features.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a cap assembly having an improved tamper- evident bridge extending between a removable cap and a tamper-evident ring.

In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a package comprising a container with a neck defining a mouth, a stopper inserted into or over the mouth, and a cap assembly of the present invention overlying the stopper and neck of the container.

In another aspect, the present invention provides radially-extending cooperative links between the cap and the tamper-evident ring which prevent destructive deflection of the bridges as the cap assembly is secured to a container neck while still allowing the bridges to take the full force when removing the cap from the container and tamper-evident ring.

Desirably, the container and the cap have complementary helical threads to provide a simple and effective way to help secure the cap onto the container. In still yet another embodiment, the cap includes a removable portion which can provide access to the stopper while the remainder of the cap is maintained on the container.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 depicts a cap assembly of the prior art. Figure 2 depicts a cap assembly of the present invention.

Figures 3-5 depicts the removable top portion and removable castellation ring of the present invention. Figure 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of a container cap assembly of the present invention.

Figure 7 depicts a cross-section of a container cap assembly of the present invention as it would sit in registry with a typical stopper in the open mouth of a container to which the cap is attached. Figure 8 depicts details of the vent aperture of a container cap assembly of the present invention.

Figures 9-12 depict features which improve the ease of removing the tear-off portion of a cap assembly of the present invention.

Figures 13-16 depict details of tamper-evident features of a cap assembly of the present invention.

Figures 17-18 depict front and back views, respectively, of a cap assembly of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures 2-18, the present invention provides a tamper-evident cap assembly that is desirably formed as a single piece from a suitable polymer, such as polypropylene, by injection molding. The cap assembly includes separate features which may be employed individually in a container cap. For example, the removable cover feature, the removable castellation feature, and the tamper-evident bridge features are contemplated to be individually employable or combinable in a container cap of the present invention.

The cap assembly of the present invention includes a removable cover feature in place of the pull-off ring of the prior art. The removable cover feature includes a push-up tab which allows a central portion of the top wall of the cap to be torn away along a predefined channel formed in the top wall. The ends of the channel are placed to either side of the push-up tab. The channel opens on a major surface of the top wall of the cap while the channel ends desirably also open, or include a notch facing, substantially normal to the length of the channel so as to concentrate both shear and tensile stresses at the ends of the channel and ease the removal of the removable portion of the cap from the cap body.

The cap assembly of the present invention also desirably includes a vent aperture in fluid communication with the cap cavity into which a stoppered container neck is inserted. As the spacing between the exposed stopper surface and the cap is reduced to be almost negligible, there will be minimal moisture or vapor ingress therebetween and any moisture which does collect there will be able to vent out.

The cap assembly of the present invention also provides a removable castellation feature about the top wall of the cap body with ends terminating to either side of the push-up tab. A second channel is formed adjacent to the castellation, but radially-outside the tear-off portion channel, which also provides an area of relative weakness and stress concentrations to ease the tearing away of one or both ends of the castellation feature from the cap body.

The cap assembly of the present invention further provides a plurality of tamper-evident bridge connectors extending between the cap body and a tamper-evident ring which is affixed to the container on which the cap assembly is placed. The cap assembly also desirably includes cooperating torque -blocker links on the cap body and tamper-evident ring. The links provide interfering engagement as the cap body is threaded onto a threaded container neck, but allow for the cap body to be unscrewed from the container neck. The tamper-evident bridge connectors are long and have a stronger connection to the tamper-evident ring than to the cap body. The tamper-evident bridge connector will thus desirably tear at the end closer to the cap body so as to provide less interference with a torque blocker links. The cap body includes a notch formed in its open rim into which the bridge connector extends so as to allow the bridge connector to be longer and to provide a larger visual cue for checking on the integrity of the bridge connector. A longer bridge connector is able to flex further, without failing, before the torque blockers engage each other. The bridge connectors of the present invention should show more damage after being sheared during ordinary cap body removal which also has the benefit of making it easier to detect re-gluing of the sheared bridge connectors. Longer bridge connectors thus provide a more secure, less susceptible to inadvertent damage, indicia of integrity of the connection between the cap body and the tamper-evident ring.

Referring to Figures 2-18, cap assembly 110 includes a cap body 112 having an elongate cylindrical wall 114 extending between opposed first end 116 and second end 118. Cylindrical wall 1 14 includes a cylindrical outer surface 120 and a cylindrical inner surface 122 such that cylindrical inner surface 122 defines an elongate cap cavity 124. Inner surface 122 further supports thereon an internally-extending helical thread 125 for screwing onto a mating thread on the neck of a container. Cap 112 further includes a number of radially-spaced outwardly projecting fittings 127 for engagement by user fingers when removing the cap from the container so as to fully expose or remove the septum closing the container. Fittings 127 further include indents 129 for engagement by an injector. First end 1 16 defines a cap mouth 126 in fluid communication with cap cavity 124 and cap mouth 126 and cap cavity 124 receive the neck of a container (not shown) to which cap body 112 is connected. Second end 1 18 supports a planar top wall 130 substantially spanning second end 118. Top wall 130 includes opposed major first and second surfaces 132 and 134, respectively. Cap body 112 defines a vent aperture 136 between a portion of top wall 130 and first end 1 16 of cylindrical wall 114. Vent aperture 136 is in fluid communication with cap cavity 124.

Top wall 130 defines an elongate channel 140 opening on first major surface 132.

Channel 140 includes opposed first and second ends 142 and 144 opening at spaced-apart locations on vent aperture 136. Top wall 130 includes a tear-off portion 146 which is centrally- bounded by channel 140. Tear-off portion 146 may be removed from cap body 112 so as to expose a top aperture 143 in registry with a septum, or stopper, 145 (as best seen in Figures 3, 5, and 7) inserted into the neck or open mouth of a container to which cap assembly 110 has been attached. With tear-off portion 146 removed, a clinician may insert a needle or cannula through the septum to remove the contents of the container. The present invention further contemplates that channel 140 may be formed to open on second major surface 134 of top wall 130, in which case channel ends 142 and 144 are either formed in overlying registry with cap cavity 124 or are formed to open in fluid communication with vent aperture 136. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, second major surface 134 also supports a sealing rib 135 projecting into cap cavity 124 so as to engage the septum 145. Rib 135 extends radially-outwardly so as to outline top aperture 143 along the path of channel 140. Tear-off portion 146 includes a cantilevered tab 148 extending therefrom at a location defined between the ends 142 and 144 of channel 140. Desirably, the free end of cantilevered tab 148 extends over a portion of cylindrical wall 114 across vent aperture 136. Cantilevered tab 148 further includes a first segment 150 substantially coplanar with top wall 130 and desirably includes a second segment 152 upstanding from first segment 150. Desirably, second segment 152 of cantilevered tab 148 is positioned at the free end 154 of first segment 150. First segment 150 of cantilevered tab 148 desirably defines a depression 156 opening on first major surface 132 at a location adjacent to second segmentl52 for weakening cantilevered tab 148 to make it more easily deflect under a bending moment applied by pushing upward, or upward and inward, on second segment 152. It is contemplated that depression 156 could form a notch along the intersection of first and second segments 150 and 152 of tab 148. Alternatively, depression 156 could be formed to open in fluid communication, and overlying registry, with cap cavity 124.

Cap assembly 110 further includes a castellation ring 160 bounding first major surface 132. Castellation ring 160 includes opposed first and second ends 162 and 164, respectively, such that first end 162 is positioned adjacent to vent aperture 136 and second end 164 is positioned across vent aperture 136 from first end 162. Castellation ring 160 includes a plurality of upstanding crenelated arcuate wall segments 165 therealong. Desirably wall segments 165 extend as high, or higher, above first major surface 132 than second segment 152 of tab 148. Castellation ring 160 defines an outer notch 166 opening between castellation ring 160 and cap body 112. Outer notch 166 provides a relatively weak attachment or ring 160 to cap body 112 so as to allow castellation ring 160 to be torn away therefrom. As shown in the figures, notch 166 may be formed to open onto first major surface 132 of top wall 130 although it is further contemplated that notch 166 may be formed as any relatively thin connection between ring 160 and cap body 112 which assists in separating ring 160 from cap body 112. Desirably, outer notch 166 extends between a first and second end 168 and 170, respectively, which open in fluid communication with vent aperture 136. First and second ends 168 and 170 of notch 166 desirably further include transversely-opening notches 172 and 174 which open on vent aperture 136. First and second transversely-opening notches 172 and 174 enhance stress-concentration on the ends 168 and 170 along outer notch 166 when tearing the castellation ring away from cap body 1 12. More specifically, notches 172 and 174 include tapered surfaces 176 and 178 which face towards first segment 150 of tab 148. Ends 168 and 170 thus have bi-directional notches which enhance tearing of ring 160 from body 1 12. As shown in Figure 14, cap assembly 110 may further include first and second frangible upper tab support 180 and 182 spanning between second segment 152 of tab 148 and first and second ends 162 and 164, respectively, of castellation ring 160. Additionally, cap assembly 110 may further include a lower frangible tab support 184 extending between second major surface 134 of cantilevered tab 148 and cylindrical wall 1 14. Tab support 184 desirably includes a notch 186 opening radially outwardly from cap body 112 to assist with tearing tab 148 from top wall 116.

Cap assembly 110 is also provided with a tamper-evident ring 190 which is designed to remain with the container after cap body 112 has been removed. Ring 190 includes a ring body 191 which defines a number of lug apertures 192 therethrough which allow a snap-fit to cooperating projecting lugs on the neck of the container. Ring body 191 also defines a central ring aperture 195 which receives the neck of a container therethrough. The projecting lugs of the container ensure that ring 190 remains in place as cap body 112 is rotated off of the container and separated from ring 190.

Cap assembly 110 further includes a plurality of elongate frangible bridge connectors 200 connecting cap body 112 to ring 190. Desirably, bridge connectors 200 are evenly spaced about cap body 112 from each other. Each bridge connector 200 includes a first end 202 connected to the second end 1 18 of cylindrical wall 1 14 and a second end 204 connected to ring 190. First end 202 of the bridge connector 200 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end 204 so as to provide separation of cap body 112 from ring 190 at first end 202 of bridge connector 200. Providing separation at first end 202 of bridge connector 200 further assures that bridge connector 200 will not hang up on the torque -blocking link of ring 190. Second end 118 of cylindrical wall 114 terminates at an annular rim 210 and defines a notch 212 for each bridge connector 200 opening on rim 210. First end 202 of each bridge connector 200 extends to the closed end 212a of a notch 212 in order to allow the bridge connector to be longer and more visible to inspection without furthering the gap between cap body 1 12 and ring 190.

Additionally, each bridge connector 200 defines, with cylindrical wall 114, a bridge notch 214 which opens in fluid communication with ring aperture 195. Bridge notch 214 also elongates the body of connector 200 and allows more torsion and deflection before failing. Second end 204 of each bridge connector 200 includes a surface 216 tapering radially-outwardly towards ring 190 so as to provide more material and cross-sectional area, and thus strength, to second 204 than to first end 202. Additionally, the length and shape of bridge connector 200 allows for vertical movement during application of cap assembly 1 10 to a container without failing. Bridge connector 200 desirably allows deflection so that cap body 112 is able to rest against ring 190 during attachment to a container without causing any bridge connector 200 to begin failing.

Cap assembly further includes a radially-extending cap links 220 cooperating with a ring links 222. Desirably, cap assembly 1 10 includes at least a pair of cooperative cap links 220 and ring links 222 which are equally spaced about cap mouth 126. Cap link 220, formed to project radially-outward from cap wall 114, and ring link 222, formed to project longitudinally or upward from ring 190 so as to be radially-aligned with cap link 220, are positioned in close proximity and in facing opposition across a radially-spaced gap 224. Ring link 222 is positioned to be radially-outward of second end 1 16 of cap wall 1 14 so that cap wall 1 14 will pass clear radially-inward of ring link 222 as cap body 112 is removed from ring 190. The radially extending cap links 220 and ring links 222 cooperate to prevent a failure load being applied to the bridge connectors 200 while attaching or connecting cap assembly 1 10 to a container. The gap 224 between the opposed links on the cap and the ring can close to nothing as cap body 1 12 is screwed onto the container neck. The rotational deflection of the cap links 220 towards the ring links 222 allows the two sets of links to engage each other and thus take any additoinal load from the bridges 200. The gap 224 between the links is designed to be less than the maximum deflection that the bridges may experience before starting to fail when connecting cap assembly 110 to a container neck. As cap 1 12 is removed from the container and ring 190 (which remains on the container), the cooperating links will be free from each other so that all stress is focused upon the tamper-evident bridges 200. In an undeflected orientation, cooperating links 220 and 222 are spaced apart less than the maximum deflection allowed by bridge connectors 200 before tearing of the bridge connectors begins. The spacing of the cap links from the ring links is further contemplated to also take into account any deformation at the links which could allow further deflection of the bridges, all to ensure that the bridges do not fail during application of cap assembly 1 10 to a container. Ring links 222 are positioned with respect to cap links 220 so as to be facing the direction cap body 112 is turned when separating cap body 112 from tamper-evident ring 190. That is, as cap 112 is rotated to separate from ring 190, cap links 220 will be drawn away from its cooperative ring link 222. Ring links 222 are spaced radially-outwardly across a gap 226 from first end 116 of wall 1 14 of cap body 112, so as to not interfere with the rotation of cap body 112 when being removed from ring 190.

The design of the bridge connectors 200 of the present invention, particularly with first end 202 extending into the notches , provide easy visual confirmation of the bridge connectors' integrity. When bridge connectors 200 are broken, after cap removal from ring 190, the relatively wide and thin bridges will have been stretched to failure, making them very difficult to make look intact again.

With a cap assembly of the present invention, the container to which it is connected may be opened in a number of ways. The removable portion of cap assembly can be removed to gain access to the stopper, whilst leaving the stopper in place. The stopper can then be pierced by a hypodermic needle or similar. Alternatively, the entire cap body 112 may be removed (which will stress the bridges connecting the cap to the tamper-evident ring to failure), which then allows complete access to the entire stopper. Complete access to the stopper may be useful if, for example, an infusion spike which is wider than the removable portion of the cap is to be used. As a further alternative, the entire cap and the stopper can be removed, to enable pouring out the contents or the insertion of a quill or straw to load an autoinjector.

While the particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the teachings of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A cap assembly for a container, comprising:

a cap body having:

a cylindrical wall extending between opposed first and second ends, the cylindrical wall including a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface the cylindrical surface defining an elongate cap cavity,

a planar top wall including opposed first and second major surfaces substantially spanning the first end of said cylindrical wall,

a vent aperture defined between a portion of the top wall and the first end of the cylindrical wall, the vent aperture in fluid communication with the cap cavity, an elongate channel defined by the top wall to open on one of the major surfaces, the channel including opposed ends opening at spaced-apart locations on the vent aperture,

a tear-off portion of the top wall centrally bounded by the channel, a cantilevered tab extending from the tear-off portion at a location between the ends of the channel, a portion of the cantilevered tab extending over a portion of the cylindrical wall.

2. A cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cantilevered tab further comprises an first segment substantially coplanar with the top wall and a second segment upstanding from the first segment.

3. A cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the second segment of the cantilevered tab is positioned at a free end of the first segment.

4. A cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the first segment of the cantilevered tap defines a depression opening on a major surface at a location adjacent to the second segment, the depression weakening the cantilevered tab so as to more easily deflect under a bending moment applied by the second segment.

5. A cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel opens on the first major surface, opposite the cap cavity.

6. A cap assembly of claim 4, wherein the depression opens on the first major surface.

7. A cap assembly of claim 4, further comprising a caste llation ring bounding the top surface, the castellation ring having opposed spaced-apart first and second ends such that the first end is positioned adjacent to the vent aperture and the second end is positioned across the vent aperture from the first end, the castellation ring including a plurality of upstanding crenelated wall segments therealong. 8. A cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the castellation ring defines an outer notch opening between the castellation ring and the cap body, the outer notch providing a relatively weak attachment so as to allow the castellation ring to be torn away from the cap.

9. A cap assembly of claim 8, wherein the outer notch extends between opposed first and second ends and wherein each of the first and second ends further define first and second transversely-opening notches opening on the vent aperture, the first and second transversely- opening notches providing a stress-concentration on the ends of the outer channel when tearing the castellation ring away from the cap body.

10. A cap assembly of claim 9, wherein said outer notch opens about said first major surface.

1 1. A cap assembly of claim 10, further comprising a frangible tab support extending between the second major surface of the cantilevered tab and the cylindrical wall.

12. A cap assembly of claim 11 , wherein the frangible tab support includes a substantially planar wall defining a notch opening radially-outwardly from the cap body. 13. A cap assembly of claim 10, further comprising a first and second frangible outer tab supports extending between the second segment of the cantilevered tab and the first and second ends of the castellation ring, respectively.

14. A cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a helical thread supported on the inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical wall for cooperatively engaging a mating helical element of a container neck so as to allow the cap body to be screwed onto the container neck; A tamper-evident ring including an annular ring body, the ring body defining one or more lug elements to engage cooperating lug elements on the neck of a container;

At least one elongate frangible bridge connector connecting the cap body to the ring, the bridge connector having a first end connected to the second end of the cylindrical wall and a second end connected to the ring, wherein the first end of the at least one bridge connector has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end of the at least one bridge connector.

15. A cap assembly of claim 14, wherein said second end of said cylindrical wall terminates at an annular rim, the cylindrical wall defining a notch opening on the annular rim, the cylindrical wall having a notch for each at least one bridge connector, such that the first end of each at least one bridge connector is positioned within the notch.

16. A cap assembly of claim 15, wherein the first end of each at least one bridge connector defines a radially-inner notch opening towards the second end of the cylindrical wall.

17. A cap assembly of claim 15, wherein the second end of each at least one bridge connector includes a surface tapering radially outwardly to the tamper-evident ring.

18. A cap assembly of claim 14, further comprising cooperating link elements on the cap body and the tamper-evident ring, the link elements extending radially-outwardly from the cap body and the tamper-evident ring.

19. A cap assembly of claim 18, wherein in an unde fleeted orientation, the links of the cap body and the tamper-evident ring are spaced apart less than the maximum deflection allowed by each of the at least one bridge before tearing of any ate least one bridge begins.

A cap for a container, comprising:

a cap body having: a cylindrical wall extending between opposed first and second ends, the cylindrical wall including a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface the cylindrical surface defining an elongate cap cavity; a planar top wall including opposed first and second major surfaces substantially spanning the first end of said cylindrical wall, a helical thread supported on the inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical wall for cooperatively engaging a mating helical element of a container neck so as to allow the cap to be screwed onto the container neck;

A tamper-evident ring including an annular ring body, the ring body defining one or more lug elements to engage cooperating lug elements on the neck of a container;

At least one elongate frangible bridge connector connecting the cap to the ring, the bridge connector having a first end connected to the second end of the cylindrical wall and a second end connected to the ring, wherein the first end of the bridge connector has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end of the bridge connector.

21. A cap assembly of claim 20, wherein said second end of said cylindrical wall terminates at an annular rim, the cylindrical wall defining a notch opening on the annular rim, the cylindrical wall having a notch for each at least one bridge connector, such that the first end of each at least one bridge connector is positioned within the notch.

22. A cap assembly of claim 21 , wherein the first end of each at least one bridge connector defines a radially-inner notch opening towards the second end of the cylindrical wall.

23. A cap assembly of claim 21 , wherein the second end of each at least one bridge connector includes a surface tapering radially outwardly to the tamper-evident ring.

24. A cap assembly of claim 20, further comprising a vent aperture defined between a portion of the top wall and the first end of the cylindrical wall, the vent aperture in fluid communication with the cap cavity,

an elongate channel defined by the top wall to open on one of the major surfaces, the channel including opposed ends opening at spaced-apart locations on the vent aperture,

a tear-off portion of the top wall centrally bounded by the channel,

a cantilevered tab extending from the tear-off portion at a location between the ends of the channel, a portion of the cantilevered tab extending over a portion of the cylindrical wall

25. A cap assembly of claim 24, wherein the cantilevered tab further comprises a first segment substantially coplanar with the top wall and a second segment upstanding from the first segment.

26. A cap assembly of claim 25, wherein the second segment of the cantilevered tab is positioned at a free end of the first segment.

27. A cap assembly of claim 25, wherein the first segment of the cantilevered tap defines a depression opening on a major surface at a location adjacent to the second segment, the depression weakening the cantilevered tab so as to more easily deflect under a bending moment applied by deflection of the second segment.

28. A cap assembly of claim 24, wherein the channel opens on the first major surface, opposite the cap cavity.

29. A cap assembly of claim 27, wherein the depression opens on the first major surface.

30. A cap assembly of claim 29, further comprising a castellation ring bounding the top surface, the castellation ring having opposed spaced-apart first and second ends such that the first end is positioned adjacent to the vent aperture and the second end is positioned across the vent aperture from the first end, the castellation ring including a plurality of upstanding crenelated wall segments therealong.

31. A cap assembly of claim 30, wherein the castellation ring defines an outer notch opening between the castellation ring and the cap body, the outer notch providing a relatively weak attachment so as to allow the castellation ring to be torn away from the cap.

32. A cap assembly of claim 30, wherein the outer notch extends between opposed first and second ends and wherein each of the first and second ends further define first and second transversely-opening notches opening on the vent aperture, the first and second transversely- opening notches providing a stress-concentration on the ends of the outer channel when tearing the castellation ring away from the cap body.

33. A cap assembly of claim 32, wherein said outer notch opens about said first major surface.

34. A cap assembly of claim 33, further comprising a frangible tab support extending between the second major surface of the cantilevered tab and the cylindrical wall.

35. A cap assembly of claim 34, wherein the frangible tab support includes a substantially planar wall defining a notch opening radially-outwardly from the cap body.

36. A cap assembly of claim 35, further comprising a first and second frangible outer tab supports extending between the second segment of the cantilevered tab and the first and second ends of the castellation ring, respectively.

37. A cap assembly of claim 20, further comprising cooperating link elements on the cap body and the tamper-evident ring, the link elements extending radially-outwardly from the cap body and the tamper-evident ring.

38. A cap assembly of claim 37, wherein in an unde fleeted orientation, the links of the cap body and the tamper-evident ring are spaced apart less than the maximum deflection allowed by each of the at least one bridge before tearing of any ate least one bridge begins.

39. A cap assembly of either claim 1 or claim, wherein the cap assembly is formed as a unitary part by injection molding.