HK1071344B - A positive-orientation container and closure combination - Google Patents

Description

Closure and container combination with positive location system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a closure assembly and to a package in the form of a combination of a container and a closure assembly for a container. More particularly, the present invention relates to a closure assembly and package that provides reliable positioning of the closure assembly relative to the container.

Background

Reliable positioning systems for packages in the form of a container and a closure assembly for the container are widely known in the art. For example, U.S. patent No.5145080, the subject matter and entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a closure assembly that includes a closure body having a closure skirt with one or more cavities provided on an inner surface of the closure skirt. The closure assembly is engageable with a finish on a container neck, the finish comprising a threaded container neck with a protrusion formed on a base of the neck. Each cavity may receive a projection. As the closure is rotated and screwed onto the container neck, the closure skirt initially engages the projection and undergoes some deformation. When the closure is screwed onto the container neck, the container neck or closure skirt or both must be sufficiently resilient to deform to accommodate the relative movement of the projection and skirt until the projection is received in the cavity. When the cavity is aligned with the protrusion, the container skirt or the protrusion, or both, return to their undeformed shape, thereby retaining the closure on the container in the predetermined orientation.

The prior art reliable positioning systems have a number of disadvantages. For example, the systems described above require that the closure skirt have a wall thickness sufficient to accommodate formation of the cavity. On the other hand, such closures require that the skirt wall or the projection or both of the closure body be dimensioned to allow deformation without excessive rotational forces. Accordingly, the positive locating features of prior art closure systems present limitations in the dimensional characteristics of the skirt wall of the closure body and the protrusion of the finish portion of the container neck, and related limitations in the manufacturing techniques and aesthetic appearance of the closure assembly.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a positive location system in the form of a combination closure and container that avoids these limitations. It would also be advantageous if such an improved closure system could be adapted to bottles, containers or packages having a variety of shapes and made from a variety of materials. In addition, it would be desirable if such an improved system could produce a system with reliable operating performance with efficient, high quality and high volume manufacturing techniques and a low scrap rate.

Disclosure of Invention

The foregoing benefits and advantages are achieved by the present invention, which provides a package comprising a closure and container combination having positive locating features that do not require deformation during installation, thereby eliminating the limitations of prior art positive locating systems.

Broadly, the present invention comprises a securely positioned container and closure combination comprising: A) a container defining an interior and having a neck defining an opening to the interior, the neck having at least one external neck thread of a predetermined root diameter; B) a closure cooperable with the container neck to close the opening, the closure including a deck and a skirt, the skirt extending from the deck and having at least one internal skirt thread for threaded engagement with the neck; and C) locating formations on the closure and on the container for engagement with the locating formations on the closure to provide positive location of the closure at a fully closed mounting position relative to the container, characterised in that the combination prevents further screwing of the closure beyond the fully closed mounting position and the locating formations on the container are 1) spaced from the external neck thread of the container, 2) located fully within the root diameter of the external neck thread of the container and are operable without deformation of the closure on screwing on the container neck, engagement of the locating formations preventing further threaded engagement during mounting but allowing removal of the closure from the container.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a closure having a stopper portion with at least one stopper projection which is cooperable with a container neck projection formed on a shoulder on the inner surface of the container neck. This aspect of the invention may be defined as a securely positioned container and closure combination comprising: A) a container body defining an interior and having a neck including a neck interior surface and defining an opening to the interior, the neck having at least one neck thread and at least one container neck protrusion extending from the neck interior surface, the at least one container neck protrusion having a container neck protrusion abutment surface; and B) a positively positioned closure cooperable with the container neck to close the opening, the closure comprising: 1) a closure deck, 2) a skirt extending from the deck having at least one skirt thread formed thereon for threadingly engaging the at least one neck, 3) a plug portion extending from the deck for sealingly engaging the inner surface of the neck, and 4) at least one plug projection formed on the plug portion and engageable with the at least one container neck projection abutment surface when the closure is rotated to an installed position to positively locate the closure relative to the container. When the closure is screwed onto the container neck, the at least one plug portion abutment surface eventually engages the at least one neck lug abutment surface, thereby preventing further rotation of the closure relative to the container and thus creating a securely positioned mounting position of the closure relative to the container.

In another preferred embodiment, at least one neck projection is provided at one end of the container neck, and the closure body is provided with at least one closure deck projection extending from the closure deck and engageable with a corresponding projection of the at least one neck projection. This feature of the invention may be defined as a securely positioned container and closure combination comprising: A) a container body defining an interior and having a neck defining an opening to the interior, the neck having 1) at least one neck thread formed thereon, 2) a neck end surface extending around the opening; and B) a positively positioned closure rotatably cooperating with the container neck to close the opening, the closure comprising: 1) a capping platform; 2) a skirt extending from the closure deck and having at least one skirt thread formed thereon for threaded engagement with the at least one neck; wherein the container body neck has at least one neck projection extending from the end face; and the closure having at least one closure platform projection extending from the closure platform and engageable with a corresponding projection in the at least one neck projection when the closure is rotated to the installed position to positively locate the closure relative to the container, the engagement of the locating formations preventing further threaded engagement during installation but allowing removal of the closure from the container.

When the closure is screwed onto the container neck, the closure platform lug eventually engages with the neck lug, preventing further rotation of the closure relative to the container and thus creating a securely positioned mounting position of the closure relative to the container.

The novel positive locating feature provided by the present invention is readily achievable in closures and containers made by injection molding of thermoplastic materials. These features may allow for reliable positioning without undue restriction on the size of the closure skirt and without the need for more complex manufacturing operations associated with forming the protrusion extending from the base of the container neck.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, the claims and the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a representative closure and container assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the closure and container shown in FIG. 1 with the closure installed on the container and the closure overcap in an open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a representative lid and container assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the closure and container shown in FIG. 6 with the closure installed on the container and the closure overcap in an open position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial side view of the representative first and second mating surfaces of the embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 11-11 of FIG. 10;

Detailed Description

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only some specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments so described. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

For ease of description, most of the figures used to illustrate the invention show the positive positioning system in a typical orientation, where the container is vertically on the base of the system and the system is on the top of the container, and terms such as up, down, horizontal, etc. are used with reference to this position. It should be understood, however, that the positive location system of the present invention may also be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in locations other than the described locations.

Some of the positive locating systems provided by the present invention include a closure for use with a threaded container having a particular finish, while others of the present invention are adapted for use with a threaded container having a conventional finish.

The term "neck" as used herein refers to any portion of the container on which a thread or other fastening means for the closure is formed. The term "neck" is not limited to container portions having a smaller diameter or smaller lateral dimension than the container body. Thus, a container having a threaded portion of equal or similar width or diameter to the container body may also be considered a "neck" in accordance with the definitions used herein.

Some of the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the container and closure show conventional structural details and features, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. However, it is not necessary to describe in detail these details and features in order to understand the present invention, and so it is not described in detail herein.

Referring to fig. 1-5, a representative positive-orientation system is shown in a package, generally designated by the numeral 10, that includes a container 20 and a closure 30. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that fig. 1 only shows the neck of the container 20. The container 20 generally includes a body portion or storage portion (not shown) which may have any suitable specific or conventional configuration, with a neck portion 21 extending therefrom for receiving the closure 30. The container neck 21 includes a neck finish having at least one external thread 24 formed on an outer surface thereof. The base or root of the thread form (i.e., the innermost radial extent of the thread on the container neck) defines a predetermined minor diameter or root diameter.

In accordance with the present invention, the novel positive locating system is characterized by the container neck 21 and closure 30 being assembled together to provide a predetermined positioning of the closure 30 relative to the container neck 21. In particular, the container neck 21 is provided with locating structure, such as at least one container neck protrusion 28, and preferably a pair of container neck protrusions 28, extending from a container neck shoulder 27 (FIG. 1) formed on the interior of the container neck 21 and extending from the interior surface 25 of the container neck wall 26. The shoulder 27 forms the small diameter portion of the neck 21 and the large diameter plug receiving portion 22. The container neck lugs 28 are preferably spaced approximately 180 degrees apart and each have a generally vertically extending container neck lug abutment surface 29 for engaging a respective plug sealing lug 54 formed on the closure 30 as described below. The protrusion 28 is preferably located within the container thread root diameter of the container neck.

The closure 30 includes a generally cylindrically shaped closure body 32 including a closure skirt 34 extending downwardly from a generally planar closure deck 35. An internal thread 40 (fig. 1 and 3) is formed on the inner surface of closure skirt 34. The closure platform 35 includes an outlet portion 38 that defines a dispensing aperture 44 for allowing contents to flow from the container 20. The closure body 32 also includes a plug portion 50 extending downwardly from the closure deck 35 and having a rounded end surface 52 (fig. 3 and 5) to allow for easy insertion of the plug portion into the large diameter portion 22 of the container neck 21.

The lid 80 is pivotally connected to the closure body 32 by a hinge 82 and includes a lid side wall or skirt 84 that extends from a lid end wall 88 to a lid support surface 86. In the preferred embodiment shown, the cover 80 is attached to the closure body by suitable means, such as a snap-action hinge 82. Such a snap hinge 82 is formed integrally with the closure body 32 and the overcap 80. The snap hinge 82 may be of a conventional or special type, such as that described in U.S. patent No.4403712 or U.S. patent No. 5642824. The lid 80 includes an inner post or ring seal portion 90 for accessing and sealing the dispensing aperture 44. The lid 80 is movable between an open position (fig. 2 and 3) for allowing the contents of the container to be dispensed and a closed position (fig. 1) in which the dispensing aperture 44 (fig. 2) is closed. In another embodiment (not shown) the hinge 82 may be omitted and the cover 80 may be completely removed from the closure body 32.

The closure body 32, lid 80 and hinge 82 are preferably molded as a unitary structure from a suitable thermoplastic material compatible with the container and its contents. The details of the particular hinge structure, the upper lid structure and the platform structure of the closure body do not form part of the present invention. The closure 30 may include other dispensing features in place of the outlet portion 38 and dispensing aperture 44. For example, special discharge structures such as nozzles, spray members, etc. may be provided. Alternatively, multiple dispensing apertures, or other structures for discharging the container contents, may be provided in the closure body 32. The entire upper cover 80 may be completely omitted depending on the type of the discharge structure incorporated.

In accordance with the positive locating feature of the present invention, a plug portion 50 is provided having locating structure, such as one or preferably two plug projections 54 (only one plug projection 54 is visible in the figures) spaced about 180 degrees apart, each having a plug projection abutment surface 56 for engaging the respective container neck projection abutment surface 29. As shown in fig. 3, when the closure body 32 is screwed onto the container neck 21 in a clockwise direction as viewed from above, the stopper projection abutment surface 56 of the stopper projection 54 will eventually engage the container neck projection abutment surface 29, resulting in a secure positioning of the closure 30 relative to the container 20. Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of fig. 3, showing one of the plug seal abutment surfaces 56 engaging one of the neck lug abutment surfaces 29 and preventing further rotation of the closure 30 in the direction of arrow (a). Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of fig. 3, showing the rounded end face 52 of the plug seal portion 50 and the axial length (L) of one of the plug seal projections 56. It will be appreciated that the axial length (L) of the stopper projection 56 and its radial position on the stopper portion may be selected according to the slope of the neck thread 24 and thus the slope of the closure skirt thread 40, thereby allowing maximum engagement of the stopper projection 54 with the container neck projection 28.

Referring to fig. 6-11, another representative positive-orientation system is shown in a package, generally designated by the numeral 110, that includes a container 120 and a closure 130. In this embodiment, a locating structure is provided on the underside of the closure deck, which in the preferred form shown includes a pair of closure deck projections 154 that are located in an annular space 152 (FIG. 3) between the plug seal portion 150 and the closure body skirt 134 of the closure body 132. In this embodiment, the container 120 includes a container neck 121 having a container neck end face 123. The locating structure is provided in the container neck and in the preferred form shown includes a pair of neck projections 128 extending from the container neck end face 123. Each lug 128 includes a generally vertical neck lug abutment surface 129. Each closure platform tab 154 is adapted to engage one of the two neck tabs 128 extending from the neck end face 123.

The container neck 121 includes a neck finish having at least one external thread 124 or thread form on its outer surface. The base or root of the thread form (i.e., the innermost radial extent of the thread 124 on the container neck 121) defines a predetermined minor diameter or root diameter.

The container neck finish 128 is preferably located within a predetermined root diameter of the container neck thread 124. That is, the container neck protrusion 128 does not extend radially outward on the wall of the container neck 121 beyond the root of the neck thread 124.

The closure 130 includes a closure body 132 having a closure skirt 134 extending from a closure deck 135, the closure deck 135 having an outlet portion 138 defining a dispensing aperture 144. An internal thread 140 is formed on the inner surface of closure skirt 134 for engagement with container neck thread 124. As best shown in the cut-away view of fig. 6 and the cross-sectional view shown in fig. 8, the plug seal portion 150 extends from the closure deck 135, and an annular space 152 is formed between the outer surface of the plug seal portion 150 and the inner surface of the closure skirt 134. In accordance with the present invention, closure deck protrusions 154 are located in annular space 152 and each include a closure deck protrusion abutment surface 156. The closure body protrusion 154 is adapted to engage the neck protrusion 128 when the closure body 132 is rotated to the installed position as shown in fig. 7 and 8. The abutment surface 129 formed on the neck protrusion 128 engages the abutment surface 154 formed on the closure body protrusion 154, thereby preventing further rotation of the closure body 130 relative to the container 120.

The closure 130 further includes an upper cap 180 pivotally connected to the closure body 132 by a snap hinge 182. The upper cover 180 includes upper cover side walls 184, an upper cover bearing surface 186 and an upper cover end wall 188. An aperture seal member 190 is provided on the upper cover end wall 188.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of fig. 7 and illustrates the positioning of one of the closure platform lug abutment surfaces 156 relative to the container neck finish 123. Fig. 10 is a partial view showing the abutment of one of the closure deck protrusion abutment surfaces 156 with one of the neck protrusion abutment surfaces 129, thereby preventing further movement of the closure deck protrusion 154 in the direction of arrow (B). Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of fig. 10 and shows the engagement of the cap platform lug abutment surface 156 with the neck lug abutment surface 129 as viewed from above.

The present invention contemplates that closure 30 or 130 includes one or more features that align with a particular orientation relative to container 20 or 120, respectively. Such features may include a dispensing aperture. Alternatively, such a feature may also be a specific thumb or finger gripping area on the closure that can be grasped in a specific orientation relative to the container. If the closure comprises a lid, it may be desirable to locate the hinge portion of the lid relative to one side of the container, particularly if the container has a non-cylindrical shape. When the container is of a type having a non-cylindrical configuration, such as having flat sides and/or particular gripping areas, it is desirable to ensure that the lid has a certain orientation with respect to the container when opened, which prevents the contents from being poured or dispensed from the container.

Finally, it may be desirable to position the closure on the container for reasons unrelated to the closure dispensing structure and/or overcap. For example, closures may be molded to a particular exterior configuration for aesthetic or commercial decorative reasons, and it is desirable to ensure that such a closure is installed in a particular orientation relative to the container. Alternatively, the closure may include preprinted textual or graphical material that requires specific positioning relative to the container.

From the above detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, it will be clear that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the inventive concept and principles of this invention.

Claims (2)

1. A positive-orientation container and closure combination comprising:

A) a container defining an interior and having a neck defining an opening to the interior, the neck having at least one external neck thread of a predetermined root diameter;

B) a closure cooperable with said container neck to close said opening, said closure comprising 1) a deck, 2) a skirt extending from said deck and having at least one internal skirt thread for threaded engagement with said neck; and

C) locating formations on the closure and locating formations on the container for engagement with the locating formations on the closure to provide positive location of the closure in a fully closed mounted position relative to the container;

it is characterized in that

The combination prevents further screwing of the cover out of the fully closed mounting position, and

the locating formation on the container is 1) separate from the external neck thread of the container, 2) lies entirely within the root diameter of the external neck thread of the container, and 3) is operable upon screwing the closure onto the container neck without deformation of the closure, engagement of the locating formation preventing further threaded engagement during installation but allowing removal of the closure from the container.

2. A positive-orientation container and closure combination comprising:

A) a container body defining an interior and having a neck defining an opening to the interior, the neck having 1) at least one neck thread formed thereon, 2) a neck end surface extending around the opening; and

B) a positively positioned closure rotatably cooperating with said container neck to close said opening, said closure comprising: 1) a capping platform; 2) a skirt extending from the closure deck and having at least one skirt thread formed thereon for threaded engagement with the at least one neck;

it is characterized in that

The container body neck having at least one neck projection extending from the end face; and is

The closure has at least one closure platform tab extending from the closure platform and engageable with a corresponding tab in the at least one neck tab when the closure is rotated to an installed position to securely locate the closure relative to the container, the engagement of the locating structure preventing further threaded engagement during installation but allowing removal of the closure from the container.