IES980660A2

IES980660A2 - A tamper evident cap

Info

Publication number: IES980660A2
Application number: IE19980660A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Paul O'connell
Original assignee: Rustsun Ltd
Priority date: 1998-08-07
Filing date: 1998-08-07
Publication date: 2000-03-22
Also published as: IE990682A1

Abstract

A tamper evident plastics cap (1) for a discharge valve on a pressurised fuel gas bottle has a cylindrical side wall (2) terminating in a domed top wall (3) at an upper end of the side wall (2). A circumferential ridge (7) is provided on an inner face of the side wall (2) for snap engagement within a complementary circumferential groove on an outer wall of the gas bottle discharge valve to retain the cap (1) on the gas bottle. The side wall (2) incorporates a tear-away strip which extends upwardly from a bottom edge of the side wall (2) and can be torn away by gripping a ring pull (5). A tamper evident skirt (6) is mounted at the bottom edge of the side wall (2). The skirt (6) will readily break away from the side wall (2) in the event of attempted removal of the cap (1) from the gas bottle discharge valve. <Figure 3>

Description

ABSTRACT A Tamper Evident Cap A tamper evident plastics cap (1) for a discharge valve on a pressurised fuel gas bottle has a cylindrical side wall (2) terminating in a domed top wall (3) at an upper end of the side wall (2). A circumferential ridge (7) is provided on an inner face of the side wall (2) for snap engagement within a complementary circumferential groove on an outer wall of the gas bottle discharge valve to retain the cap (1) on the gas bottle. The side wall (2) incorporates a tearaway strip which extends upwardly from a bottom edge of the side wall (2) and can be tom away by gripping a ring pull (5). A tamper evident skirt (6) is mounted at the bottom edge of the side wall (2). The skirt (6) will readily break away from the side wall (2) in the event of attempted removal of the cap (1) from the gas bottle discharge valve. .

APPUCATWRMa.

Claims

1. Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a tamper evident cap according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The cap 1 has a generally cylindrical dide wall

2. Terminating in a domed top wall

3. At an upper end of the side wall 2. A tear-away strip

4. Is incorporated in the side wall 2 and has an associated ring pull 5 for parting the strip 4 from the side wall 2. Also a tamper evident skirt 6 is provided at a bottom of a side wall 2. Within the cap 3 on an inner face of the side wall 2 is a circumferential ridge 7 which projects inwardly on an inside face 8 of the side wall 2 for snap engagement with a complementary circumferential groove (not shown) on an outer wall of a valve 10 of a pressurised fuel gas bottle. The tamper evident skirt 6 extends downwardly from a bottom of the side wall 2. A number of weakened portions are provided in the skirt 6 IE 980660 - 4 formed by circumferentially spaced-apart grooves 11 in which the wall thickness of the skirt 6 is reduced. The tear-away strip 4 is defined by a pair of spaced-apart slots 15, 16 which extend upwardly from a bottom edge of the skirt 6 through the side wall 2. The slots 15, 16 provide areas where the thickness of the side wall 2 is reduced sufficiently so that upon engagement of the ring pull 5 the strip 4 can be torn upwardly so that the cap 1 can be released from the valve 10. It will be noted that the slots 15, 16 extend up the side wall and partially across the domed top wall 3. Thus the strip 4 can be torn away while at the same time remaining attached to the top wall 3 for convenient disposal. It will be noted that the outer surface of the side wall 2 and top 3 are smooth. This feature and in addition the domed construction of the top wall 3 make it very difficult for someone to grip the outside of the cap for unauthorised removal. In use, a pressurised gas bottle is filled and then the cap 1 is pressed into engagement with the valve 10. This can be done in a single movement pressing the cap 1 downwardly. The cap 1 is of plastics material which is sufficiently resilient such that the side wall 2 and ridge 7 deform so that the cap 1 can be pressed downwardly over the valve until the ridge 7 snaps into engagement with a complementary groove on an outer side wall of the valve 10. The cap 1 is then locked in position on the valve 10 and can only be removed by releasing the tear-away strip 4 which gives evidence of tampering. Any attempt to prise the cap 1 upwardly off the valve 10 by for example engaging a screw driver with a bottom edge of the skirt 6 will damage the skirt 6 breaking the skirt 6 at one or more of the slots 11 to give evidence of tampering. IE 980660 - 5 It will be noted that the depth of the ridge 7 is such as to allow the cap 1 be pressed into engagement with the valve 10 but once the ridge 7 is engaged with the complementary groove on the valve 10 the cap 1 cannot be

5. Pulled off the valve 10 without releasing the tear-away strip 4. It will also be noted that the ridge 7 is interrupted at positions corresponding to the slots 15, 16 on the inside wall 8. The ring pull 5 provides a secure grip for removal of the 10 tear-away strip. The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail. CRUICKSHANK & CO. IE 980660 I