Plastic cap with breakaway tamper band and method of forming same

Abstract

This relates to a plastic closure cap for containers wherein the closure cap has a tamper indicating band for locking beneath a transfer bead on a container neck finish to indicate tampering. The closure cap is molded as an intermediate article of manufacture with the tamper indicating band being formed integrally with the skirt of the closure cap. The article also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending and radially outwardly directed protrusions which bridge across the skirt and tamper indicating band. The closure cap is formed from the intermediate article of manufacture by horizontally slitting the lower part of the closure cap along the intended line of juncture between the tamper indicating band and closure cap skirt. The slitting also extends into the protrusions leaving the protrusions with only a small connecting portion and the protrusions becoming straps which open to permit the tamper indicating band to separate from the lower edge of the skirt sufficiently to receive the transfer bead of the container neck finish. These straps rupture when the closure cap is removed after the tamper indicating band is locked beneath the transfer bead of the closure neck finish. If desired, that portion of the intermediate article of manufacture which becomes the lower edge portion of the skirt may be formed with axially extending, circumferentially spaced slits which permit a deformation of the lower part of the closure cap skirt as it engages over the transfer bead.