Tamper evident closure for beverages

Abstract

The tamper evident closure of the present invention includes a twist cap made of plastic that comprises a top portion and an interior sealing means which coacts with the rim of the container neck to provide a gas-tight seal. The top portion also has an annular depending skirt which includes an interior retaining means to coact with an exterior retaining means on the neck finish of the container. The exterior retaining means of the container has a positive stopping means to coact with interior retaining means of the cap so that when the cap is screwed onto the container neck the positive stopping means is engaged at a predetermined level of sealing force and capping torque. The depending skirt also includes locking means which lock the cap into place after the container is sealed. The locking means coacts with the positive stopping means on the container to prevent the cap from being unscrewed or twisted off the container after it has been screwed onto the container neck. The locking means are disengaged only after a tamper evident means is engaged to indicate that the container has been opened. The tamper evident means preferably comprises a hinged portion of the cap which must be lifted to open the container, thus providing an indication that the container has been opened or tampered with.