CA1254858A

CA1254858A - Tamper indicating package

Info

Publication number: CA1254858A
Application number: CA000437599A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Peter P. Gach; Randall K. Julian
Original assignee: Sunbeam Plastics Corp
Current assignee: Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corp
Priority date: 1983-02-14
Filing date: 1983-09-26
Publication date: 1989-05-30
Also published as: AU1972983A; GB8403499D0; DE3343717A1; FR2540835A1; JPS59152165A; GB2134893B; GB2134893A; FR2540835B1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A tamper indicating package incorporates a closure, at least a portion of which is transparent, and a seal which is bonded to the container so that the seal is visible through the closure. In some embodiments the closure is fastened also to the seal so that any movement between the closure and container results in fracture of the seal indicating tampering.

Description

35~

This in-e~ltion rcl~tes to closures for contc~ 5 and more partic-llarl~ to closures of the ty~e which ir-c~i-catc tam~erin~.
There are a large varicty of closures for cont~incrs which attempt to give evidence that the container h~s bcen opene~ or at l~ast been placcd in a condition for opcning once it has bcen filled. ~he purpose of such closurcs is to insure that consumers can be confidcnt that a closure has remained in a closed position once it has been filled and that it has not been opened ~rior to its purchase. ~lo~-evcr, many of such closures car- ~e ovcrcome by careful m~ni-pulation.
lS On~ such form of closurc utilizes a destructi~lc seal which covers tlle opening to the container and is ~ondod to the perimcter of the opcnincJ. The s~al is protect~d from premature clamaye by a cap scrcwc~ or snapp~d onto the con-taincr. Access to the contents of the container re~uircs re~loval of the cap and puncturing the seal. Consequelltl~, removal of the cap gives visual evidencc of whether or not the container has rcmaincd sealcd since it originall~ ~s filled. I~owc~er, with such containers and closurcs, thc seal can be punctured and the customer is not macle a~aro o~

the condition of his purchase until thc cap is rcmov~d.
~lso, the s~al can be completely removed and unless thc co~-sumer is amiliar with the pac~a~inq or has anotller con-tainer with whicll the open container can be comparcd, the consumer can ~e unawa~e tha~ there has been a prior o~cning.
In th~ present invention, a tamper indicating clo-sure can be attached to a container in any conventional manner, such as by threads or snap locks and can be any onc ", o~ a n~mlber o~ clli:Lcl resi-3tal-lt t:y~)es. 'L'he closuKe is IllaCIe at least in palt of transparent nlateriaL and incc)rporatcs a seal of plastic -treated foil or treatecl paper su(~l a~-;
glassine. The unclerside of the seal is provided Wit:il a pressure sensitive adhesive or in the case of foil, it car ~e treated with a coatiny ot plastic. Conseque~ntly, a~t:cr a container is f:illed wlth a product, the manufacturer ap-plies the closure to the container to bring the undersi(le of the seal into contact with the perime~er oE the openinq.
In the case of adllesive, this causes a bonding and in the case of plastic foils the filled container and cap can be passed through an induction field -to cause bondiny. In either case a secll of the contents within the container oc-curs and the transparent closure makes the entire seal clearly~visible so its integrity can be determined espec:i-ally when compared with like containers in the same dis-play.
In a second embodiment of the invention the -top of ~ the~seal has a portion ~onded -to the underside of the cap.
~ ~ Opening movemen-t requires either rotation or axial movement of the~closure relative to tlle container and such movement fractures the seal element so that there is visual evicience that~an effort has been made to open the container by re-~moving the cap. Again, this is particularly evident when the package of the procluct is on shelves of a retail outlet where comparison can be made with like packages on display.
However, even a single packac3e gives evidence that there has ~een an eEfort at prior openinc3 ~y the fracture of the ~
seal. ~Such fracturing of the seal is emphasized by the use A5 ~ of ontrastlng inclicia or colors for opposite sides of the S l.IN 1~- 3 5 't ~S~3~

seal, In oth~r ~mbocliments o~ the inventioJl, t:h~ IL ic, fas-tenecl to ~he ullcterslde oE the cap l~v mearl~ intec3ral ~/ith the cap and :Ln s-till ano-ther embodiment of the inventio~
means are provided a-t the underside of the ca~ ~Jhich ~ermits turniny movement of the cap relative to the seal on a con-tainer in the closing direction but act to engaae an(l tear the seal if an eEfort is made to move the cap in an openin(l direction. In still another emhodiment, the means for making 1~ the sealing element visible also provides the secondary seal for sealing the container after the primary foil or glassine seal has been puncturecd and removed.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are de-~ scribecl with reference to the drawings in which:
; ~ Flgure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a closure ~ embodying the invention in closed position on the neck of ; a container which is shown in elevation;
Fi~ure 2 is a fragmen-tary perspective view of one embodiment of tlle closure also shown in cross-section;
~ ~ ; ; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the entir~ clo-sure seen~in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodi-~ ~ment of the~invention;
; ~ ~ Figure 5 is a top view of the closure and container 2S~ ~ of the~en~oc~imel-t the invention seen in Figures 2 and 3 showing the condition of -the packac3e after it ls first closed after Eillin~3;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure S showinc~ the conditi~on of the packa~Je after an effort has been macle to open it by movement of the closure from the container;

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Fic~ re 7 ls a vi.ew simi.lar to E'i.gure 6 o:E l:ile c(:)rl--tainer witS~ the closure rerrlovecl allcl with a portion or thf:.
remaining attaclled to the container;
Figure 8 is a view of -the packaye after i-t has been opened and the seal has been compl.e-tely removed and the closure is rea-ttached -to the contai.ner;
Figure 9 is a partial view similar to Fiyure 1 showing another arrangement for holding the closure on the container;
F~igure 10 is a cross-section view of another embodi-ment of the invention;
Figure 11 is a top view o the embodiment of the inventions seen in Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 10 showing another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 13 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention seen in Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view similar -to Figure 12 showing still another embodiment of the invention;
; Figure 15 is a -top view oE the embodiment of -the invention seen in Figure 14; and Figure 16, 17 and 18 are cross sectional views showiny variations of seal elements used with the closures.
A portion of a package 10 having a closure 12 erbodying the invention and shown in closed position on a ' :: i, : ~

~;UrJ A-35~1 contalner l~ is Illuc;tl-ated ill Fi~Jure L. Tl~e cc~llt;~ er- l~
has a neck :l6 prc)videcl wlth conventLc)rlal sc~rew tll~e(~ 3 formed on the exterior of the neck 16 whicll are co~n~Lcrllen-tary to threads 20 formed on the closure l2, The clos~ire 12 has a f]at disc shape~ top 22 with a dependillg cylill~lrical skirt 24 the interior wall oF whicl is formed with the threads 20. In -the closed condition of the package lO, a seal 30 is disposed between the closure 12 and the container 14. The seal ~n is a thin membrane of treated paper such as glassine or plastic coated metal foil 3, such as aluminum. The seal 30 is disposed within the clo-sure 12 and has its perimeter ~ortion 32 provicled with a pressure sensitive adhesive SUCh that when the closure 12 is applied to the container 14, the s~al 30 is bonded to the sealing lip of container 14 to seal the contents with-in the container 14. In the case of a seal 30 made o~
metal foil, the ullderside of the seal can be treated with a coating of plastic material so that after the closure 12 is placed on the container 14 for the first time, the packa~e lO can be passed through an electric incluction field caus-ing the ~eat to bond -the foil to the perimeter of the neck 16.
The cap is made of transparent material and in the closed position o~ packacJe lO the seal 30 on the container ~14 lS clearly visi~)le throu~h the closure 12. For th:is pur-pose the cap preerabLy is made of plastic such as polypro-polene which has the property of (Jlvinc~ contact clarity.
By contac-t clarity is meant that objects in contact such ~, as the seal 30 are clearly visible whereas objects spac~ed slightly froln the material are less definite. With the SUN ~-35~

seal in con~act w~ h the unc:lerside o~ the closl,lre :l.2 the conditioll oE tlle seal '30 .i.s rea(l,i.ly apparerlt. ~Lc;o t~lC.~
position of th~ seal relative to the cap is less appaLent in the event that the seal is slightly spaced from the closure 12 as woulcl occur if a screw type cap has been loosened. Other plastic materials such as polyethyLene also can be used to form closure 12 but are apt to ~i~e a less clear or milky appearance to objects.
After container 14 has been filled with the product to be packayed and the transparent closure 12 together witn the seal 30 is brouyht into closing contact with the con-tainer 14 the seal 3n will be bonded to the perimeter of the neck 16 either by way of the pressure sensitive a~he-sive or by the subsequent induction heating of plastic coat~
ing of the metalic seal 30. Under these conditions the con-tents of the con-tainer 14 are sealed and the seal is visible through the transparent closure 12. When SUCIl paCka(3eS 10 are displayed in side by side relationship at retail outlets, the, consumer can readily view the condition of the seal , :~
: 20 through ~he transparent closure 12. If the seal 30 has : : been fractured or is absent, this indicates the possibili-ty : oi~tampering so tnat the package can be removed from the display to prevent distribution to a consumer.
In a second embodiment of the invention, a closure ~ Q2 ean be identical in all respects to the elosure 12 ex-cept that a top portion of seal 30 is bonded by means indica-ted at 44 to an unders:ide of the flat top 22. This bond is a permanent bond crea-ted either by adhesive in the case the seal 30 is of ~lassine or by fusion during induction heating:in the case o~ plastic coated metal foil.

~U~ A-354 IE clesired the trallsparel-lt: cLosurc ~2 may have poY~
tions such as thct lnclicatecl at 46 stippled to rmake those portions oE the clc)sllre opaclue or only partially trans-parent. This makes it possible to provide contras~incJ
areas concealincJ adhesive or screw threads and can be usecl to give a clecorative appearance. however, a major portio~
oE the top 44 preferably is transparent.
The seal 30 can be held in posi-tion within the closure 42 during application of the closure assembly to the container 14 during the packaging operation. The re-sultant package 10 is one in which the seal 30 has its pe-rimeter bonded to the container 14 and a portion of the top of the seal bonded to closure 42. The appearance of the package 10 is as viewed in Figure 5 in which the contents of tne container are concealed by the seal 30 which in turn is clearly visible through the closure 42. The nature of the bonding is such that the attachments to the container 14 and to the closure 12 are permanent. As a consP~uence any relative movement of the closure 12 and container 14 will result in distortion and fracture o the seal 30.
Once an effort has been made -to open the packacJe .,:
10 by removinc3 the closure 42 the fractured seal 30 becomes ~vlsible through the top of the closure 42 and such fracture is readily apparent particularly when compared with like eontainers in whlch the seal 30 is intact as seen in Figure 5.
Upon fracture of the secll 30 it may have an appear-ance as viewed in Figure 6 in which a portion of the seal 30 is torn away to make the contents ~7 of the container 14 partially visible. Fragmellts such as that indicated at w7_ L~

43 may remain attacllecl to the closure 42 ancl pc)r~iolls :i~l(li cated at 50 may r~main at:tclche(l to tllc contail-~r L4. V.lrL~
ous indicia such as contrastin(J printinc3 or contrastillc-l colors can be use~ to make the fracture more readily ap-parent. For example, with directionally disposed indicia such as the lines 52 the fragments 48 and 50 become more apparent because of the misalignment of the lines 52. Also portions of the seal 30 may be folded over as indicated at 54 in which event contras-ting indicia such as printing or colors on the top and bottom side of -the seal 30 will make the fracture of a seal more apparent.
After the closure 42 is completely removed from the container 14 portions of the seal 30 will remain at-tached to the container 14 as viewed in Figure 7. These fragments as well as those attached to the closure 42 can then be removed with the fingers. Upon replacement oE the closure 42 to the container 12 the unsealed contents of the container are visible throuc1h the transparent portions o~ closure 42 and the absence of -the seal 30 will be readi~
20 ~ ly noticeable particularly when compared with like package 10 which remained fully sealecl.
Although the en~odiments of the invention have been disclosed in connection with a screw type closure 12 or 42, either form of closure could be of the snap type which as 25 ~ ~ viewed in Figure 9 has a lock flange 60 formed on the neck of the~container 14 and a complementary locking flanc3e 62 formed on the inside of the closure. Removal of the c:Lo- -sure 12 or 42 requires axial movement which in the case of the closure 42 results in rupture of the seal 30 upon rela~
tive axial movement ancl removal. The closures 12 and 42 ~3 -lJ I`I A~

also can be ol various chi.Lcl proo~ type hav.incJ lockin~J
features ancl re(l~lirincJ pre(leterlnirled orientat:ion or ,clucc~
ing before o~enlncJ can occur. In all such packacJes the closures are made wholly or partially transparent to ma~e the membrane seal 30 visihle and relative movement oE the container and closure can be used to rupture a seal.
After the orimarv seal 3n has been re~oved from the container 14 the closure 12 can be reapplied to the container 14 in which case the bead 69 coacts with the interior surface of the skirt 24 as seen in Figure 1 -to form a seal to protect the remaining contents of the container 14.
Referring to Figures ln and ll, ano-ther embodimen-t of the invention is illustrated in which a closure 70 has a disc shaped top 72 with a depending cylindrical skirt 7~, the interior walls of which are formed with the threads 2n.
The~disc~shaped top 72 is made up of an annular flange 76 which is~formed integrally with -the skirt 7~ and can be made of an opacJue ma-terial. The annular flange 76 forms a port 20~ or opening 78 which is closed bY a disc shaped liner 80 seated against the underside of flange 76 and within the :
closure 70. The liner 80 i5 fastened in position by any ~means including a~lhesion or snapped into ~osition ~y an lnterference fit with the interior of skirt 7d. The liner ~ 80 is transparent and is made of relatively resilient and soft plastic, for example, a low density polyethylene with ~an ethylene aceta-te additive. This makes the liner 80 relatively soft and pliable to give it sealing charactexistics and at the same t.ime allows .it to be transparent~
In the closed condition of a package, a destruc-tible seal 82 similar to the seal 30 ls disposed between _ 9_ ';UN ~-35~

the closure 70 arlcl the container .L~. As in the E)r:ic~r emhodiments oE the invent:ion, the seal 82 can be borl(ltld by adhesive or incluction heatinc3 to -the sealing llp of the container :L~ to seal the contents within the containex 14. After the package has been filled and sealed for the first time, the seal element 82 is clearly visl.ble through the transparent liner 80 to indica-te its cond:itiorl.
If the seal ~ement 82 has been fractured or is absent, tampering or prior opening i5 apparent and the ~ackage can be removed from the display to prevent distribution to consumers.
In normal use, the presence of absence of -the seal can be noted through the transparent liner 8~
and when the closure 7~ is removed, the seal element can be broken and removed in its enti.rety to use the contents of the container l~. r~hen only a ~ortion of the contents are used, the closure can be repl.~ced on the container 14 whi~h willbring the underside of the liner 80 into sealing engagement with the lip on the neck of the container l~,.
In this manner, the liner 80 not only provides a means by which the prirnary seal ~2 can be observed, but after it has been removed, the liner 80 thereafter acts as the seal for the remaining contents of the container l~.
The destructible seal 82 can be applied to the container l~. separately from the underside of closure 80 or can be temporarily assemblecl to the .inside of the closure by an interference fit afforded by the circumfererltlal lip 84 of seal 82 50 tha-t the closure 70 and seal ~2 can be app~lied to the container simultaneously.

sU~ ~-3sa ~ 3 ReEerrirlcJ to Fk3ures 12 arld 13, another errli~o(li~leilt:
is illustratecli~-the form of a closure 90 which ls made oE
transparent plastic material and includes a disc-shaped top 92 and a cylindrical skirt 94. The closure 90 is adapted for use with a seal element 9~, similar to tlle seal element 82 which is secured in sealed engagement with the lip of the opening of the container 14. The unclersicle of the disc-shaped top 92 is provicled with a plurality of annularly spaced teeth 98 having a sharp leading edge 99 and a tapered trailing surface lO0 as considered in the direction of turning the closure 90 to a closing direction.
This configuration of teeth 98 is such that Wit}l a seal element 96 seated within the closure 90, the assembly can be applied to a container l4~ When the closure 90 is rotated in a closing direction, the seal element 96 can rotate therewith until it comes in contac-t with the sealing lip of the container l~ During such closing movemen-t, if rotati~n of the seal is prevented by the closure l4, -the trailing edges lO0 of the -teeth 9B will permit relative ~ mov~ement;between th~ seal 96 and the closure gn. ilowever, once the;container 14 is closed and the seal 96 becomes bonded to the sealing lip o the container 14, any effort to r~tate the closure in an opening direc-tion will cause the s~harp edges 99 of the teeth 98 to tear the seallng element 96. The torn conclition of the seal element 96 becomes visible throu~h the transparent closure 90 thereby giving an indication of tamperin~ with the package. ~, Similarly prior to any effort at opening movement the 5' transparent closure 90 makes it apparent that the package with ltS seal element 96 is intact and unopened.

SUt~ ~-354 ~ 3 FkJ~Ires 1~ and 15 show clnother emboclirnent oL Itle invention wherein a closure merrl~)er lln hag a general..Ly disc-shapecl top 112 and a dependinc3 cylindrical skirt 1l.~.
The closure ~ember 110 is made of transparent plastic material and the underside of the disc-shaped toy 112 is provided with integral spi.kes 116 which receive open:ings 118 in a seal el.ement 120 similar to the seal elements 30, 82, and 96 used with the prior embodiments of the inventlon. ~fter the seal 120 is positioned within the closure 110 wi-th the spikes 116 passing through the openings 118, the spikes 116 are distorted by heat to form rivet heads 122~. The rivet heads 122 not only serve to hold the seal element 120 in po~ition relative to the closure member : 110 but also seal the openings 118 preventing any leakage from the container 14 through the openings 118. After the ,.
: ~ closure:member 110 is applied to a container la and the seal element 12~ becomes bonded -to the lip of the opening ~:in the~container 14, any subsequent movement of the closure ~member ll0 will damage and tear the seal element 120. The 20 ~ condition:o~ the seal can be continuously observec~ through : the~transparent closure member 110 with a ruptured condition of the seal 120 indicating tampering. Spi~es 116 such as~those::shown in Figure 14 can be formed on the trans-:~ ~ parent disc-shaped liner 80 seen in Figure 10 to hold se~1 :~25: ~ element 82 relative to the liner %0 in the same manner that the seal:~l20 is secured to the closure 110 seen in ~igure 14. With such an arrangement any effort at open1ng ~ill ~"
: : tear seal 82 to make tampering evident.
Variations of the seal elements 30, 82 and 12n ~ used~with~the various closure members seen .in Figures 1, SUN ~-354 10, and 14, carl take tlle form o:E the seal assemb.l:ic~ l0 illustrated :in çi.c3ure 16 or 13:1 in FicJure 17~
Referring first -to Figure 16, the seal el.ement 130 is made up of an upper layer formed by a disc 132 and a lower layer formed by a disc 134. The upper disc 132 may be made of paper havin~ indicia such as the lines 52 seerl in Figures 6 and 7 or a repeated worded message indicated at 136 in Figures 11, 13, ancl 15. The upper surface of disc 132 is covered with a layer 137 of either pressure r sensitive adhesive or with a plastic coating welclable by induction heating such that upon filling and closin~ a container for the first time a narrow band of adhesive or coating 137a is activated to Easten the seal assembly to ~ ~ the closure 12. ~he lower disc 134 is made of fol.l or : glassine material such as used in the seals 10, 70 and 110.
r When made of foil a layer of either adhesive or coat.ing 138 is applied to disc 134 which upon fillingand cl~sing a container w.ill result in a band 138a of pressure sensi-;: ~ tive~adhesive 13fia which will aclhere in sealing contact 20;~ ~ wlth~the uppex lip 139 at the perimeter of an opening in ~ a:container. In the case of glassine, adhesive usually is : :~pplied:to the lip 139 of the closure.
The upper and lower discs 132 and 13q are : pe~rmanently fastened together by glue bond indicated at 25: : 140~and can be formed at one or more locations between the discs 132 clnd 134. The paper indicator disc 132 perferably is made of an opa(-~ue material which is weaker than the ~: lower sealincl disc 134. As a result, when the trans-parent closure membe.r 12 is rotated in an opening clirection relative to an associated container, on which seal.ing disc 134 is attached by adhesive or coating, the upper .',UN A-~5~
~L~548S~3 disc 132 and Iower seaLincJ :L3~ move relative to eclch ot~ r bu-t the glue boncl 1~0 resists such re:La~ive rotatioll caUc~:ir the weaker indicator disc 132 to tear. Such tearing is apparent through the -transparent closure member 12 indica--ting that an effor-t has been made to open the container with which the closure assembly is being used. Upon removal of the closure member 12, the lower sealing disc 134 remains in sealing engagement with -the container and can ~be easily broken and removed to provide access to the con-o tents of the container.
The seal element assemb]y 131 which is shown ln Figure 17 includes a lower disc assembly 114 that is suh-stituted for the lower disc 134 seen in Figure 16. The lower disc assembly 144 has a sealing disc 146 similar to lower ~15~ disc~134~made of foil or glassine material and is fastened to a container 14 by a band of adhesive or coating 147a around~the perimeter of the disc 196. The lower disc assembly 144 also includes a pulp backing disc 148 which is releasably attached to the sealing disc 14~ by a wax-like ~20 ~ material indicated at 149. The pulp disc 148 is fastened to the~upper disc 132 which is fastened to closure 12 by ad~esi`ve band 137 by a glue bond indicated at 150 which permanently fastens the pulp disc 148 to the u~per disc 132.
~ ~s with the closure assembly seen in Figure 1 ~ removal of the closure 12 seen in Fiqure 17 from a container 14 requires rotation of the closure member durlng which time the upper disc 132 is rotated relative to the lower disc assembly 114 causing the weaker upper disc 132 30 ~ to~fracture. The fracture is visible throuqh the trans-parent closure 12 thereby indicating ~hat an efEort has been made to open the container.

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Th~! inrle:r surface o~ tlle skirt 24 above tlle threads 20 is provided w.ith an annular bead 152 whic}l engages the pulp disc 148 durlng u2ward movement of the closure member 12 relative -to the container 14 causing the pulp disc 148 to separate from the lower sealincJ
disc 146 which rerllairls ~tached to the container by adllesl.ve 147a. The seal clisc 146 can be broken and completely removed to make the contents of the container available.
With bo-th of the tamper indicating closure : 10 assemblies 130 and 131 seen in Figures 16 and 17, the upper indicator disc 132 can be Permanently fastened to the : closure member 12 without the use of the bead of adhesive 136 by employing a mechanical bond as illustrated at 156 in Figure 18. 'I'his mechanical bond 156 is formed by ~: 15~ portions integral with the closure member 12 passing through openings in the upper disc 132 to form rivets 15~ ~, ,~
n the same ~anner as the rivet.s 116, 120 seen in Figure 14.;: When such mechanical bonds are formed, the opposed ~ upp~er di~sc~132 and the lower disc 134 or pulp disc 148 ;:; 20 ~avoid~any potential leakage that might possibly occur around the rivets 156 due to the material passing through :: the~upper disc 132.
The layered seal assemblies of Figures 16, 17 and `:
18 conceal the glue portion 140 ~hich has an irregular ~ contour ~and migh-t be regarded as unsightly i~ not concealed by opaque portions o:f the closure such as those indicated : at 46 in Figure 3.
Both of the seal element assemblies 13n and 131 can ~be used wi-th the tamper .indicat.ing closure 70 seen in Figure 10 and 11 using either the upper adhesive bead :
. ' SU~ 35 136a of adhes:ive-coatillcJ or the mechan:ica:l. bond 15f. a[~OK~ e~l by rivets :in FitJures 16 throucJh 18 to :asten t:l~e seclL e~ nl(:ull assemblies to the liner 80.
A -tamper indicating closure has been providecl in which a partially ox fully transparent closure has a breakable seal that becomes bonded to a container so that the seal and lts condition is readily visible throu-~h the closure. In some embodiments, means are provided to coact between the seal and the closure so that any movement of -the closure relative to the seal once it has been affixed to the container becomes apparent through -the transparent closure. Also, embodiments are provided with secondary seals or liners which become operative when the primary seal has been removed so that the closure can be resealed ~: 15 ~ to protect its remaining contents.
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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A tamper indicating closure for use with a container having a neck containing an opening, comprising, in combination: a cover member having a generally flat top and a cylindrical skirt extending therefrom, said top having a central portion constructed of a transparent material and extending substantially continuously along one end of said skirt, said skirt containing means for detachable attachment to said container neck; a destructable seal element for closing said container opening, said seal element being constructed of a frangible material; and means for sealingly bonding said seal element to said container neck so that removal of said seal element from around said container opening results in destruction of said seal element, said said seal element being visible through the top of said cover member to indicate its integrity or tampering.

2. The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said seal element is provided with indicia to enhance detection of said seal element fracture.

3. The tamper indicating closure of claim 2 wherein said indicia is printed on said seal element.

4. The tamper indicating closure of claim 3 wherein said indicia is printed on said seal element as a worded message indicating the seal integrity.

5. The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein means for attachment to said container neck includes threads on said cover member skirt for engagement with complementary threads on said container neck.

6. The tamper indicating closure of claim 5 wherein said seal element is positioned in contacting relationship with the underside of said flat cover member top within said cylindrical skirt, and said seal becomes bonded to said container neck upon initial threading application of said closure to said container neck.

7. The tamper indicating closure of claim 6 wherein access is obtained to said container by unthreading and removing said closure from said container neck and puncturing said destructable seal element.

8. The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 wherein said seal element is fastened to the underside of said flat cover member top whereby said seal element is fractured upon initial movement of said closure to remove it from said container neck.

9. The tamper indicating closure of claim 8 wherein the seal element is fastened to said flat cover member top by bonding.

10. The tamper indicating closure of claim 1 further including a transparent insert member of a yieldable soft plastic material having a planar surface and assembled to said cover member by insertion into said skirt into contact with said top, said transparent insert member having at least an upper surface which is planar and substantially uninterrupted, and said destructable seal element being continuously visible through said insert member and the top of said cover member.

11. The tamper indicating closure of claim 10 wherein the top of said cover member has a central opening with surrounding annular flange connected at its periphery to said cylindrical skirt, said insert contacting said flange, and said seal element being continuously visible through said opening and said insert member.