CN1084279C - gland - Google Patents

Abstract

A gland (10) can be pressed onto a container (12) and can be unscrewed. The container (12) has a neck (11) with a multi-start thread comprising alternating ridges (25) and grooves (26). The cap (10) includes a generally circular top portion (13) and a downwardly extending skirt portion (14) having a plurality of lugs (21) spaced circumferentially at a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the thread grooves. When the cap (10) is mounted on the neck (11) of the container (12), each lug (21) engages a recess (27) formed in the neck (11). In the vicinity of each recess, a ramp member (29) is provided, at least some of the lugs (27) resting on at least some of the ramp members (29) when the cap is turned, the ramp members (29) leading into a respective one of the screw-threaded grooves (26) to enable the cap (10) to be unscrewed from the neck (11) of the container (12).

Description

gland

                    

The present invention relates to a cap for a container such as a bottle which can be pressed onto the container and then unscrewed.

Background technique

Known caps can be fitted on the neck of the container in a press-fit manner and can be unscrewed from the container, so-called press caps. This combination of container and cap generally depends on the use of very fine complementary threads on the container and cap. This cap is placed over the neck of the container and then pressed down onto the neck. When the cap is pressed against the neck, the two complementary threads straddle each other. To open the cap, the cap is rotated relative to the container so that the complementary threads engage each other and the cap is removed from the neck of the container.

The advantage of this type of cap is that it does not require complicated capping fixtures. For general screw caps, when the cap is installed, the cap must be fully rotated by the capping fixture relative to the neck to ensure that there is sufficient torque applied to the cap. , while sealing. However, the difficulty with such closures is that if there is longitudinal resistance to opening the closure, the fine threads on the container and closure can peel off and pile together. Such resistance may be encountered, for example, when the cover is covered with a protective identification tape. The present invention aims at providing another gland structure which avoids the use of fine threads as required.

Contents of the invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a combination cap and container having a neck formed on its outer surface with multiple threads comprising alternating ridges and grooves, each thread groove starting at or adjacent to a The upper free end terminates in a recess formed in the neck; the cap includes a generally circular top and a downwardly extending skirt, the inner surface of which is radially provided with a plurality of lugs spaced circumferentially Arranged at a pitch corresponding to that of the thread grooves and axially spaced from the inner surface of the top, each the lugs engage a recess formed in the neck; in the vicinity of each recess there are inclined members against which at least some of the lugs rest when the relative rotation of the cap which has been pressed onto the neck of the container is carried out, The bevel is introduced into a corresponding threaded groove, enabling the cap to be unscrewed from the neck of the container.

According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a closure and container combination according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the multi-start thread comprises 4-8 ridges and grooves, preferably 6 ridges and grooves. Each groove preferably starts just below the tapered lip at the free end of the container neck. The tapered lip acts to facilitate radially outward deformation of the lugs as the cap is pressed against the neck and squeezed over the threaded ridges on the neck. Each thread groove preferably terminates in a recess in the neck formed by a generally annular recess having inclined members extending through the recess at suitable intervals.

On the inner surface of the skirt, the cap preferably has a plurality of lugs equal in number to the threaded grooves. However, it is also possible to make the number of lugs less than that of the threaded grooves, at this time, a part of the threaded grooves are not used. It is also possible to have more lugs than thread grooves, in which case the excess lugs fold over the thread ridges when the cap is unscrewed. In either case, however, the radial spacing of the lugs which are introduced into the threaded grooves must be equal to the circumferential pitch of the threaded grooves when the cap is unscrewed. The lugs are preferably on a level with the inner surface of the skirt.

The thread is preferably formed by a plurality of grooves having a square cross-sectional shape. Each ridge between the grooves has an upper edge with a curved cross-section. The curvature facilitates the extrusion of the lugs over the ridges when the lid is fitted on the container.

Each lug preferably has a circumferential longitudinal axis. One end of the lug is preferably chamfered and terminates at a point. The chamfers allow the lugs to more easily engage with the corresponding bevel when starting to unscrew the cap from the container neck.

There is preferably an inclined member near the end of each thread groove, which is inclined so that the lug in contact with its upper surface can be guided upwardly into the bottom end of the associated thread groove. In a preferred embodiment, the upper edge of the ramp is at the same helical position as the upper edge on the threaded ridge connected to the ramp (which is also the lower edge of the adjacent upper groove). This structure can ensure that the lugs in contact with the upper side of the inclined member are smoothly upwardly introduced into the relevant thread grooves.

It is highly desirable to provide some form of complementary seal between the container neck and lid. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the seal comprises deformable sealing ribs integral with the lid as described in US patent specification 5423444, or variations as described in Australian patents 637706 and 74544/94. The content of the above patent specification is hereby incorporated by reference.

For example, the seal comprises an annular sealing rib protruding downwardly from below the top, the rib comprising a first portion adjoining the top and having an inner surface and a frusto-conical second portion adjoining the first portion, the inner surface being located on the skirt diameter. part facing inwards and separating a second part from the top, the second part extending radially inwards and terminating in a circular free edge, the inner diameter of the first part being related to the outer diameter of the neck of the container, where the cap is fitted When on the neck, the second portion engages the free end of the container neck and folds towards, preferably against, the inner surface of the ribbed first portion to form a seal between the container neck and the lid.

In one embodiment, a first portion of the sealing rib is formed at a radially inward portion of the skirt, and an annular space is formed between the first portion and the skirt. In another embodiment the first portion is continuous against the skirt. The first portion of the rib includes a thickening of the skirt near the top. In yet another embodiment, the sealing rib includes a generally annular weakened region formed around the inner surface of the sealing rib approximately at the junction of the first and second portions. The first portion of the rib increases in thickness as it moves away from the top of the cover. On or near the free circular edge, the upper surface of the second portion of the sealing rib has a continuous or segmented annular ridge. The underside of the top of the cover may also be provided with a segmented or continuous annular ridge within and adjacent to the first portion of the sealing rib. The sealing rib may also include a third portion connected to the second portion at or near the rounded edge and extending substantially away from the top, the third portion being no thicker than the second portion and having a length greater than its thickness.

In addition, the seal may be any known sealing structure. Seal packings made of compressible materials such as synthetic plastic foam can be used as flowed-in gaskets. In another embodiment, the seal is a cylindrical boss or tube extending axially from the underside of the cap top, capable of sealing engagement with the radially inner surface of the container neck. In yet another embodiment, the seal comprises a cap with ribs formed on the top inner surface, the interior of the cap being rotomolded or other suitable technique with a sealing membrane.

It would be desirable to provide the cap with a retaining identification band which would indicate whether the consumer had attempted to remove the cap from the container, whether or not it had been successful. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the protective marking tape is manufactured according to Australian Patent Specification 668197 or US Patent Specification 5676269. The content of the above patent specification is hereby incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment, the band comprises a generally cylindrical body portion and a segmented rib extending inwardly of the body portion, the rib forming a band with an inner free edge to engage under a retaining flange extending outwardly from the container neck. lips. The total length of the segmented ribs is preferably equal to at least 50% of the inner circumference of the belt. The inner surface of the band has a plurality of radially inward projections extending from above the free edge of the band but not beyond the inner free edge of the lip. In one embodiment the outer surface of the belt is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending locally thickened regions separated from each other by non-thickened regions. The thickened region increases the longitudinal stiffness of the body portion, but is still able to move radially outwardly as the body portion clears the retaining flange on the container when the lid is mounted on the container.

In another embodiment, the rib segment on the inner surface of the strap has an upper surface generally substantially toward the top of the cover and an underside substantially away from the top, the upper surface of the rib segment comprising a first surface adjacent to the strap body portion and extending from The inner end of the first surface extends radially inwardly to the second surface, the first surface is inclined inwardly and downwardly away from the top, and the second surface has an inclination angle substantially perpendicular to the cover skirt.

Other known protective identification tapes can also be used. Regardless of which type of retaining tape is used, it is important to ensure that the force required to tear the frangible bridge connecting the tape to the lower end of the cap skirt does not exceed the force applied to the cap by moving the lug up the threaded groove. force. Otherwise, the lugs could be torn, or the lugs could squeeze against the thread ridges when the cap is rotated.

Description of drawings

The following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is made as an example of the present invention and described with reference to the accompanying drawings. in,

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cap according to one embodiment of the present invention, shown installed on a container also according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed side view of the thread on the container shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of the lid shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view along line IV-IV of the lid shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line V-V of the cap shown in Fig. 4 .

Detailed ways

A cap 10 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 on a neck 11 of a container 12 according to the invention.

Cap 10 includes a circular top 13 and a cylindrical skirt 14 . The protective identification strip 15 is connected to the lower edge of the skirt 14 by a plurality of frangible bridges 16 . The inner surface of the cap 10 is provided with sealing ribs 17 integrally formed with the top 13 of the cap 10 and having a generally cylindrical portion 18 spaced slightly inwardly from the skirt 14 therefrom. Although the cylindrical portion 18 is shown slightly inwardly of the skirt 14, it is readily conceivable that this portion could abut against or be integral with the skirt 14. The lower end of the cylindrical portion 18 is connected to a frusto-conical portion 19 . As shown in FIG. 4 , a sharp edge 20 is provided between the first cylindrical portion 18 and the second frusto-conical portion 19 . When the cap 10 is fitted to the container 12, the free end 23 of the neck 11 engages the frustum 19 and folds it back, preferably into contact with the radially inner surface of the cylindrical portion 18. The sharp edge 20 is not necessary, but it constitutes a line of weakness between the two parts 18, 19, which facilitates the smooth return of the frustoconical part 19 relative to the cylindrical part 18 when the lid is mounted on the container. role. The folded back frusto-conical portion 19 forms a fluid tight seal with the radially outer surface of the neck 11 once mounted on the container.

In addition, although not shown in the figure, it can be easily imagined that the upper surface of the frusto-conical portion 19 has an annular ridge near its free edge, and when the frusto-conical portion 19 is folded back towards the cylindrical portion 18, it will be aligned with the top. 13 is engaged below. It is also readily conceivable that there is a complementary annular ridge on the underside of the top 13 radially inwardly of the cylindrical portion 18 .

The six lugs 21 are equiangularly distributed along the radial inner surface of the skirt 14 , and are located on a horizontal plane passing through the skirt 14 , above the frangible bridging portion 16 and below the sealing rib 17 . Each lug has a longitudinal axis lying on this plane. At the end of each lug 21 , ie the front end when the cap 10 is unscrewed from the neck 11 (ie the left end of the lug 21 in the cap shown in FIG. 4 ), the lug tapers to a point 22 .

The outer surface of the neck 11 of the container 12 has an outwardly tapering portion 24 adjacent the free end 23 . Below portion 24 there are six alternating helical ridges 25 and grooves 26 on the outer surface of neck 11 . The ridges 25 and grooves 26 comprise multi-start threads. There is an annular recess 27 below the threads on the outer surface of the neck 11. An annular recess 27 is located at the level surrounding neck 11 and has a depth equal to the depth of groove 26 . Therefore, the lower end of the ridge 25 protrudes above the recess 27 . The outer holding flange 28 for holding the identification band 15 of the cover 10 surrounds the lower edge of the annular recess 27 . In the annular recess 27 there are also six ramps 29 . The lower end of each inclined piece 29 is connected to the retaining flange 28 and the upper end is connected to the lower end of a threaded ridge 25 . The upper surface of the ramp 29 is in the same helical position as the threaded ridge 25 and its associated upper surface (which is also the lower surface of the adjacent upper groove 26).

In use, the cap 10 is positioned over the neck 11 of the container 12 in the capping fixture. The cap 10 is then pressed vertically downward by the jig. The lug 21 then slides over the outer tapered portion 24 and the threaded ridge 25 of the neck 11 until the lug is a little below the upper edge of the annular recess 27 . Next, the cap 10 is slightly rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the container 12 by the jig in a clockwise direction (see FIG. 1 ). The effect of this rotation is to disengage lugs 21 from ramps 29 to locate in slots 27 and at the lower ends of corresponding threaded ridges 25 .

As the cap 10 is pressed against the neck 11 , the sealing rib 17 comes into contact with the free end 23 of the neck 11 . The frusto-conical portion 19 is folded back by the neck 11 and preferably rests against the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 18 of the sealing rib 17 . The sealing rib 17 then forms a seal between the lid and the container 12 , in particular the sealing rib bears against the outer conical portion 24 and the free end 23 of the neck 11 .

Another effect of having the cap 10 mounted on the neck 11 is that once the cap 10 is fully sealed on the neck 11, the ribs 30 forming an inward lip on the inner surface of the retaining label 15 are pressed past the retaining flange 28 And engaged under the retaining flange 28 . In this way, removal of the lid 10 from the container 12 only involves tearing the frangible bridge 16 , leaving the protective identification band 15 on the neck of the container 12 .

The ribs 30 consist of a series of rib segments 31 spaced at small intervals 32, in the embodiment shown, covering 85% of the circumference of the belt 15. The small spacing 32 allows the belt 15 to be circumferentially flexible, allowing the rib 30 to pass the retaining flange 28 without stress causing the frangible bridge 16 to break.

Each rib segment 31 has an upper side facing the top 13 and a lower side facing away from the top 13 . The upper side has a radially outer frusto-conical surface 33 and a radially inner annular surface 34 . The annular surface 34 lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lid 10 , while the frustoconical surface 33 slopes inwards and downwards away from the top 13 . The provision of the frusto-conical surface 33 facilitates the molding of the cap 10 because it prevents, or at least substantially reduces, the production of caps with deformed ribs 30 .

When the container is to be opened, the user turns the cap counterclockwise (see Figure 1). At this time, the lugs 21 contact the corresponding inclined pieces 29 and are introduced into the lower end of the thread groove 26 . The relative upward movement of the lug 21 and thus the cover 10 relative to the neck 11 brings the rib segment 31 into contact with the lower edge of the retaining flange 28 . Further rotation of the cap 10 lifts the cap 10 still on the neck 11 and finally the frangible bridge 16 is torn off. The rotation can then be continued until the cap 10 lifts off from the neck 11 .

It should be clear to those skilled in the art that various variations and/or modifications can be made to the present invention shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as generally described. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims (21)

1. A combination cap and container having a neck formed on its outer surface with multiple threads comprising alternating ridges and grooves, each thread groove starting at or adjacent to the upper free end of the neck and terminating in A recess formed on the neck; the cap includes a generally circular top and a downwardly extending skirt, the inner surface of which is provided with a plurality of lugs along the radial direction, and the lugs are circumferentially spaced at intervals and threaded grooves Corresponding to the spacing and axially spaced a certain distance from the inner surface of the top, when the lid is pressed down on the neck of the container, each lug will Engaging with a recess formed on the neck; inclined parts are provided near each recess, and at least some of the lugs rest on at least some of the inclined parts when the cap that has been pressed on the container neck is rotated relative to each other. The fittings are guided into a corresponding threaded groove so that the cap can be unscrewed from the neck of the container. 2. The combination cap and container of claim 1 wherein the multi-start thread comprises 4-8 ridges and grooves. 3. The combination cap and container of claim 2, wherein the multi-start thread comprises six ridges and grooves. 4. A closure and container combination as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each groove begins below the tapered lip at the free end of the container neck. 5. The cap and container combination according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, on the inner surface of the skirt, the cap has a plurality of lugs in the same number as the thread grooves. 6. A cap and container combination according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the cap has a different number of lugs than thread grooves. 7. The combination of cap and container according to claim 5, characterized in that when the cap is unscrewed, the radial spacing of the lugs guided into the thread grooves is equal to the circumferential pitch of the thread grooves. 8. A cap and container combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lugs are located at a level on the inner surface of the skirt. 9. The combination of the cap and the container according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the cross-sectional shape of the thread groove is square. 10. A lid and container combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each ridge between the grooves has an upper edge which is curved in cross-section. 11. A closure and container combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each lug has a longitudinal axis which is circumferential. 12. The cap and container combination according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that one end of the lug is chamfered. 13. A closure and container combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein one end of the lug forms a point. 14. A cap and container combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bevel has an upper edge which is in the same helical position as the lower edge of the threaded groove into which the lug is introduced. 15. A cap and container combination as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a complementary seal is provided between the container neck and the cap. 16. The combination lid and container of claim 15, wherein the seal includes deformable sealing ribs integral with the lid and projecting downwardly from beneath the top of the lid. 17. The combination of lid and container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the rib comprises a first portion adjacent to the top and having an inner surface and a frusto-conical second portion adjacent to the first portion, the inner surface being located on the skirt. part radially inward of the top and separates a second part from the top, the second part extends radially inwards and terminates in a circular free edge, the inner diameter of the first part is related to the outer diameter of the neck of the container, after the closure During installation on the neck, the second portion engages the free end of the container neck and is folded back towards the inner surface of the ribbed first portion to form a seal between the container neck and the lid. 18. The combination lid and container of claim 17, wherein the second portion is folded back against the inner surface of the first portion of the sealing rib. 19. The combination cap and container of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the cap is provided with a retention identification band capable of indicating to the consumer whether an attempt has been made to remove the cap from the container, whether successful or not . 20. The cap and container combination of claim 19, wherein the band comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion and a segmented rib extending inwardly of the body portion, the rib forming a band with an inner free edge to engage the lip below the retaining flange projecting outwardly from the neck of the container, the segmented ribs having a total length equal to at least 50% of the inner circumference of the band, the inner surface of the band having a plurality of segments extending above the free edge of the band but not beyond the lip Radially inward projection of the inner free edge. 21. The combination of lid and container as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rib segment on the inner surface of the band has an upper surface substantially towards the top of the lid and an underside substantially away from the top, the upper surface of the rib segment comprising a A first surface adjacent to the body portion and a second surface extending radially inwardly from the inner end of the first surface, the first surface slopes inwardly and downwardly away from the top, and the second surface has an inclination angle substantially perpendicular to the cover skirt.

Images