Tamper-evident closure having a sealing disk and package for high-temperature applications

Abstract

A plastic closure includes a plastic closure shell having a base wall with a central opening, a skirt for securing the closure to a container neck finish, and an internal ledge on the skirt adjacent to but spaced from the base wall. A plastic disk is retained within the closure shell. The disk includes a plurality of axially extending spacer elements, preferably in the form of angularly spaced circumferentially aligned bead segments around a peripheral portion of the disk, to engage an underside of the base wall and space the disk from the base wall of the shell. Angular gaps between the spacer elements permit flow of fluid from the central opening, between the base wall and the disk and through the gaps. A periphery of the disk is disposed between the internal ledge on the skirt and the base wall of the shell to capture the disk such that the disk is free to rotate within the shell. A resilient sealing liner is molded onto an underside of the disk for sealing engagement with the container neck finish. The internal ledge on the skirt preferably includes at least one radially inwardly opening axially extending drain slot to permit flow of fluid around the periphery of the disk and through the slot in the ledge.