1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to the field of packaging and more specifically to a tamper evident container closure for packaging products such as beverages.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Plastic closures for containers such as beverage bottles are in widespread use throughout the world. In recent years, circumstances in many countries has resulted in an increase in demand for tamper evident features on such closures.
As is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,938, the use of tamper evident security bands in plastic screw closures for bottles having a screw cap has been common for some time, but the use of such security bands on snap hinge closures has been much less common. In all of the snap hinge closures of which the inventors are aware, the body, the lid and the hinge of the closure is molded together in one piece and mechanical interlocking structure is formed in the body and/or the lid for causing the lid to become mechanically affixed to the body when the lid is pressed onto the body after manufacturing. This mechanical connection is designed to be defeated in a tamper evident manner, such as by rupturing of frangible bars or webs within the connection when the closure is first opened by a consumer.
Unfortunately, in too many circumstances the mechanical connections described above are able to be defeated without rupturing the tamper evident bars or webs by a person who is determined to do so. This, of course, is unacceptable for many different reasons. A need exists for an improved snap hinge tamper evident closure and a method for making such a closure that is impossible to open without defeating the tamper evident structure of the closure.