U.S. patent application number 09/861856 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-14 for beverage container closures.
Invention is credited to Mondszien, Karl, Searle, Matthew J..
Application Number | 20020017525 09/861856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27451631 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020017525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Searle, Matthew J. ; et
al. |
February 14, 2002 |
Beverage container closures
Abstract
A container for a carbonated beverage has an interrupted
external screw thread surrounding its mouth opening engageable with
an internal screw thread of a rotatable closure. The rotatable
closure is in two parts and has a stiffened top member and a
separate, rotatable depending rim to rotatably engage on the
container and hold the top member in sealing engagement with the
opening of the container. To prevent missiling on opening, pressure
venting means such as slots extending through the closure may be
provided. Alternatively, the rotatable closure may be configured to
have a two stage opening movement. As the rotatable closure is made
in two parts it has a low opening torque.
Inventors: |
Searle, Matthew J.; (Bruton,
GB) ; Mondszien, Karl; (Mansfield, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE P.C.
8th Floor
1100 North Glebe Road
Arlington
VA
22201
US
|
Family ID: |
27451631 |
Appl. No.: |
09/861856 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09861856 |
May 22, 2001 |
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09290991 |
Apr 14, 1999 |
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6234338 |
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09290991 |
Apr 14, 1999 |
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PCT/GB98/00942 |
Mar 27, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/366.1 ;
215/307; 220/290; 220/296; 220/298; 220/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/1688 20130101;
B65D 51/145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/366.1 ;
215/307; 220/290; 220/296; 220/298; 220/303 |
International
Class: |
B65D 051/16; B65D
041/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 15, 1997 |
GB |
9707563.4 |
May 8, 1997 |
GB |
9709221.7 |
May 9, 1997 |
GB |
9709363.7 |
Claims
1. The combination of a container for a carbonated beverage and a
rotatable closure for the container, the container comprising a
body member having an opening at one end thereof, said opening
having an annular periphery and defining an unrestricted mouth
opening for the container, the rotatable closure comprising a top
member having a periphery and a separate depending rim, the rim
being engageable with the periphery of the top member and being
rotatable relative to the top member, and the combination further
comprising first external engagement means formed on said body
member proximate to said opening and second engagement means formed
internally of the rim of said rotatable closure, said first and
second engagement means being engageable to allow said rotatable
closure to be engaged on and removed from the container by rotating
the rim of the rotatable closure relative to the opening of the
container, wherein the rotatable closure is selectively rotatable
to a closed position that closes and seals said opening and being
arranged, in said closed position, to withstand a pressure of and
substantially maintain a pressurized state of the contents of the
container when the container has been filled with a carbonated
beverage, wherein the top member of the rotatable closure comprises
a substantially circular panel and a radially extending,
circumferential portion extending around the outer circumference of
said circular panel, and a first, inner annular rim, and a second,
outer annular rim, each said rim depending downwardly from said
circumferential portion, said inner and outer rims being spaced to
define therebetween a downwardly open annular channel extending
around the circumferential portion of the top member, wherein the
annular periphery of the container opening is received within said
annular channel in the closed position of the rotatable closure to
provide a seal at the top of the container opening, and, in the
closed position of the rotatable closure, the inner rim of the top
member is engaged against an interior surface of the annular
periphery of the container opening to provide a seal within the
container opening, and wherein the circular panel of the top member
is stiffened to withstand the pressure of the contents of the
container.
2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the circular panel
is siffened by a plurality of stiffening ribs formed on an interior
surface of the circular panel.
3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the annular
periphery of the container opening is provided with an annular
projection for receipt within, and engagement with, the annular
channel of the top member in the closed position of the rotatable
closure.
4. A combination according to claim 1, wherein an internal surface
of the separate depending rim carries an annular projection
arranged to engage the second, outer annular rim of the top member
in the closed position of the rotatable closure.
5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the material of the
body member of the container and the material of the separate
depending rim of the rotatable closure are the same.
6. A combination according to claim 1, further comprising pressure
venting means defined by at least one of said container and said
rotatable closure for allowing pressure to be vented from the
interior of the container upon rotation of the rim of said
rotatable closure out of the closed position during opening of the
container.
7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said pressure
venting means comprise one or more slots extending through said
rotatable closure.
8. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said pressure
venting means comprise one or more slots extending through said
container.
9. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said pressure
venting means comprise means associated with said first and second
engagement means for imparting a two stage opening movement of said
rotatable closure relative to the opening of the container.
10. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said unrestricted
mouth opening for the container has a diameter which exceeds 30
millimeters.
11. A combination according to claim 10, wherein said unrestricted
mouth opening has a diameter exceeding 50 millimeters.
12. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the top member of
said rotatable closure is made of metal.
13. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the top member of
said rotatable closure is made of plastics material.
14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein an oxygen
scavenger has been combined with said plastics material.
15. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the separate
depending rim of the rotatable closure is made of a plastics
material.
16. A combination according to claim 15, wherein the body member of
the container is made of a plastics material which is the same as
the plastics material of the separate depending rim.
17. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable
closure is removable from the container by rotating the rim of the
rotatable closure relative to the opening of the container, and
wherein rotation of said closure through less than one complete
revolution thereof is effective to enable its removal.
18. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said first and
second engagement means comprise lugs and/or stops provided on one
of the rim and of the container, and corresponding recesses, guides
and/or stops provided on the other of the container and of the
rim.
19. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said first
engagement means comprises an external screw thread provided on
said container around said opening.
20. A combination according to claim 19, wherein said external
screw thread on the container is interrupted.
21. A combination according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein said
second engagement means further comprises a plurality of lugs on
the interior of the rim of said rotatable closure for engagement
with said external screw thread.
22. A combination according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein said
second engagement means comprises an internal screw thread on the
rim of said rotatable closure for engagement with said external
screw thread.
23. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said second
engagement means comprise an internal screw thread on the rim of
said rotatable closure.
24. A combination according to claim 23, wherein said internal
screw thread is interrupted.
25. A combination according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein said
screw thread varies in pitch.
26. A container according to claim 23, wherein said first
engagement means comprise a plurality of lugs provided on said
container and spaced around said opening, said lugs being
engageable with said internal screw thread.
27. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said second
engagement means are formed on an inner surface of said rim of the
rotatable closure, and said pressure venting means are associated
with said second engagement means.
28. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said pressure
venting means comprise one or more slots extending in said rim of
the rotatable closure.
29. A combination according to claim 27 or claim 28, wherein said
pressure venting means comprise means associated with said second
engagement means and arranged to cause said rotatable closure to
require a two stage opening movement.
30. A combination according to claim 27 and claim 28, wherein said
pressure venting means comprise one or more anti-missiling stops
associated with said second engagement means.
31. The combination of a container for a carbonated beverage and a
rotatable closure for the container, the container comprising a
body member fabricated from plastics material and having an opening
at one end thereof, said opening having an annular periphery and
defining an unrestricted mouth opening for the container, the
rotatable closure comprising a top member having a periphery and a
separate depending rim, the rim being engageable with the periphery
of the top member and being rotatable relative to the top member,
and the combination further comprising first external engagement
means formed on said body member proximate to said opening and
second engagement means formed internally of the rim of said
rotatable closure, said first and second engagement means being
engageable to allow said rotatable closure to be engaged on and
removed from the container by rotating the rim of the rotatable
closure relative to the opening of the container, wherein the
rotatable closure is selectively rotatable to a closed position
that closes and seals said opening and being arranged, in said
closed postion, to withstand a pressure of and substantially
maintain a pressurized state of the contents of the container when
the container has been filled with carbonated beverage, wherein the
top member of the rotatable closure comprises a substantially
circular panel and a radially extending, circumferential portion
extending around the outer circumference of said circular panel,
and a first, inner annular rim, and a second, outer annular rim,
each said rim depending downwardly from said circumferential
portion, said inner and outer rims being spaced to define
therebetween a downwardly open annular channel extending around the
circumferential portion of the top member, wherein the annular
periphery of the container opening is received within said annular
channel in the closed position of the rotatable closure to provide
a seal at the top of the container opening, and, in the closed
position of the rotatable closure, the inner rim of the top member
is engaged against an interior surface of the annular periphery of
the container opening to provide a seal within the container
opening, and wherein pressure venting means are defined by at least
one of said container and said rotatable closure, for allowing
pressure to be vented from the interior of the container upon
rotation of said rim of said rotatable closure out of said closed
position during opening of the container.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the use of a rotatable
closure to close a container for carbonated beverages, to a
container for carbonated beverages, and to a rotatable closure for
a carbonated beverage container.
[0002] British patent No. 2,254,594 discloses a container for beer
and other beverages which is particularly suitable for dispensing
carbonated beverages to a large number of people at a public venue.
The container disclosed in the identified British patent is made of
plastics material and has an unrestricted mouth opening such that
the container itself can be used as the drinking vessel. The
opening has an external screw thread proximate thereto and the
proposal of British patent No. 2,254,594 is to provide a
correspondingly threaded end closure.
[0003] There are currently large numbers of designs of closures for
containers, including many designs of closures arranged to be
affixed and removed from the corresponding container by a screw
action. However, none of the readily available closures behave
entirely satisfactorily with a container of the type disclosed in
the above identified British patent.
[0004] The present invention seeks to provide closures which can be
used satisfactorily with carbonated beverage containers.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided the use of a rotatable closure to close a container for
carbonated beverages, wherein said rotatable closure comprises a
top member and a separate rim, the rim being held on the top member
and being rotatable relative to the top member, and wherein said
container has a body member having an opening at one end thereof,
and external engagement means formed on said body member proximate
to said opening, wherein cooperable engagement means are formed
internally of the rim of said rotatable closure, and wherein the
container opening is closed by engaging the engagement means of
said rim with the engagement means of the container.
[0006] The use of a rotatable closure of an embodiment of the
invention, which has a separate, rotatable, rim ensures that the
container can be reliably closed against the pressure of its
contents, and yet be opened relatively easily. In this respect, to
open the container it is only necessary to rotate the rim and not
the top member of the closure. If the container has a wide mouth
opening, the top member forms a large part of the closure. By this
means, the opening torque of the closure is reduced quite
considerably.
[0007] The container may be fabricated from any suitable material,
for example, from metal or glass. In a preferred embodiment, the
container is fabricated from plastics material.
[0008] Preferably, said opening defines an unrestricted mouth
opening for the container. For example, the opening may have a
diameter exceeding 30 mm, or 50 mm.
[0009] In an embodiment, said cooperable engagement means on said
rim and on the container are arranged such that said rotatable
closure is engageable and removable from the container by rotating
the rim of the rotatable closure relative to the opening of the
container.
[0010] As explained, the rotatable closure is removable from the
container by rotation of the rim, and preferably, rotation of said
rim through less than one complete revolution thereof is effective
to enable removal of the closure.
[0011] In one embodiment, the cooperable engagement means comprises
an external screw thread provided on said container around said
opening. The screw thread on the container may be continuous or
interrupted. The screw thread on the container may vary in
pitch.
[0012] The cooperable engagement means on the interior of the rim
of the closure, for cooperation with the screw thread, for example,
on the container, may comprise a plurality of lugs and/or an
internal screw thread.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of lugs are spaced
around the opening of the container, and an internal screw thread
is provided on the interior of the rim of the closure for
cooperation with said lugs.
[0014] Preferably, to prevent missiling of the closure on opening,
pressure venting means are associated with the closure. For
example, said pressure venting means may comprise one or more slots
extending through said closure, and/or through said container.
[0015] Additionally and/or alternatively, said pressure venting
means comprise means associated with said cooperable engagement
means for imparting a two stage opening movement to said rotatable
closure relative to the opening of the container.
[0016] The present invention also extends to a container for
carbonated beverages comprising a body member having an opening at
one end thereof, and external engagement means formed on said body
member proximate to said opening, and a rotatable closure engaged
on said container to close the opening, the rotatable closure
comprising a top member and a depending rim, and wherein cooperable
engagement means are formed internally of the rim of said rotatable
closure and engage the external engagement means to hold the
rotatable closure on the container.
[0017] As previously, the body member may be of any suitable
material, for example of glass or metal. However, for use at public
venues it is preferred that the body member be fabricated of
plastics material.
[0018] The rotatable closure defined above, and the rotatable
closure incorporated in an embodiment of a container of the
invention, may be fabricated, at least in part, of metal. Closures
incorporating metal generally have a lower coefficient of friction
than closures made entirely of plastics material and the use,
therefore, of metal reduces the opening torque.
[0019] The rim of the rotatable closure may be made of any suitable
material, for example, of plastics or of metal.
[0020] The top member of the rotatable closure is preferably
suitably shaped to provide stiffness thereto.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the top member of the rotatable
closure is deformed inwardly. This deformation provides the closure
with a large surface area and thereby stiffens the closure and
enables it to withstand the pressure of the carbonated contents of
the container.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the inward deformation of the top
member is utilised to form a seal between the closure and the
container.
[0023] Preferably, the engagement between the rotatable closure and
the container is arranged such that the closure may be removed by
rotating it through less than one complete revolution thereof. This
ensures quick and easy removal of the closure, a feature which is
very important if the container is being used to dispense beverages
at a public venue.
[0024] The container is also, preferably, provided with pressure
venting means to prevent missiling of the closure. Preferably, the
pressure venting means are associated with the closure. For
example, slots may extend through the closure and/or the container.
In one embodiment, these slots are adjacent to the engagement means
of the closure.
[0025] Additionally and/or alternatively, means may be associated
with the engagement means of the closure to impart a two stage
opening movement thereto. For example, such means may be arranged
to halt an opening movement of the closure relative to the
container opening. For example, appropriate stops may be provided
on the closure and/or on the container. As the closure is rotated
to effect opening, part of the closure or of the container will
abut against the stops. This arrest of the opening movement is
designed to provide for pressure venting. The effect of the stops
can be overcome by, for example, pressing down on the closure
whereby the rest of the opening rotation is enabled.
[0026] In an embodiment, cooperable engagement means on said rim
and on the container are arranged such that said rotatable closure
is engageable and removable from the container by rotating the
rotatable closure relative to the opening of the container. For
example, said rotatable closure may be removable by rotating said
closure relative to the periphery of the opening, and wherein
rotation of said closure through less than one complete revolution
thereof is effective to enable its removal.
[0027] Preferably, the cooperable engagement means comprises an
external screw thread provided on said container around said
opening. The screw thread on the container may be continuous or
interrupted.
[0028] The cooperable engagement means on the interior of the rim
of the closure, for cooperation with the screw thread, for example,
on the container, may comprise a plurality of lugs and/or an
internal screw thread.
[0029] In an alternative embodiment, the cooperable engagement
means comprise an internal screw thread on the rim of said
rotatable closure.
[0030] Said screw thread on the rim may be interrupted, and/or may
vary in pitch.
[0031] In this embodiment, said cooperable engagement means further
comprise a plurality of lugs provided on said container and spaced
around said opening, said lugs being engageable with said internal
screw thread.
[0032] The container as defined above may have any of the features
of the use of the rotatable closure as defined above, and/or any of
the features of the rotatable closure as defined below.
[0033] Similarly, the use of the rotatable closure as defined above
may incorporate any of the features of the container as defined
above, and/or any of the features of the rotatable closure as
defined below.
[0034] The present invention also extends to a rotatable closure
for a carbonated beverage container, said rotatable closure
comprising a top member, and a peripheral rim depending relative to
said top member, and wherein the top member is shaped to stiffen
the closure.
[0035] In an embodiment, said peripheral rim is separate from the
top member and is held on the top member to be rotatable around the
periphery thereof.
[0036] The rotatable closure may be fabricated and configured as
defined above.
[0037] Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be
described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows schematically a carbonated beverage container
with a closure therefor,
[0039] FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c show respectively the mouth opening of
a container having engagement means in the form of a series of
lugs, an extended view of the mouth opening, and an extended view
of the internal surface of a closure cooperable therewith,
[0040] FIGS. 3a and 3b show schematically part of a thread provided
on a rotatable closure and the lugs on the container mouth opening,
and illustrate the closing and opening movements of the
closure,
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a section through an embodiment of a rotatable
closure, for use with a carbonated beverage container,
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a further rotatable closure of the type shown
in FIG. 4,
[0043] FIG. 6 shows a still further embodiment of a rotatable
closure of the type shown in FIG. 4, and
[0044] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a rotatable
closure of the type shown in FIG. 4,
[0045] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a rotatable closure of the
present invention, wherein part of the rotatable closure is
illustrated in position on the annular periphery of a mouth opening
of the container.
[0046] FIG. 9 shows an interior plan view of a top member of the
closure of FIG. 8, and
[0047] FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the closure and
opening configuration as shown in FIG. 8.
[0048] The invention is described herein specifically with
reference to a carbonated beverage container of plastics material
as described, for example, in UK patent No. 2,254,594. However,
whilst the present invention has been specifically designed for use
with such a container, the invention is not limited to containers
as described and claimed in the British patent. For example, a
carbonated beverage container of the invention may be made of a
plastics material, or of glass, or of metal, or of any other
suitable material.
[0049] FIG. 1 shows an example of a beverage container of plastics
material for use for dispensing beer or other carbonated beverages.
In this respect, the container comprises of substantially
cylindrical body member 2 of plastics material having a closed end
4 and a generally circular mouth opening 6 at the end thereof
opposed to said closed end 4. An interrupted external screw thread
8 is provided on the body member 2 and surrounds, but is spaced
from, the mouth opening 6.
[0050] The container of FIG. 1 is also provided with a closure 100
having an internal screw thread (not visible) arranged to engage
the screw thread 8 of the container. Thus, when the body member 2
has been filled, the closure 100 can be engaged thereon by engaging
the screw threads of the closure and of the body member and then
rotating or screwing the closure to its closed position. When it is
required to have access to the contents of the container, the
closure 100 is removed and may be discarded.
[0051] The construction and configuration of the closure 100, and
the method of its engagement on the container, has to be chosen
with care to meet a number of desired criteria. It is, of course,
required that the closure 100 is able to withstand the pressure of
the contents of the container when the container has been filled
with a carbonated beverage. However, it is also generally required
that the closure can be removed quickly. Where the closure is
engaged by rotation or by screw action, the requirement for easy
and speedy access generally means that the closure should not have
to be rotated more than one complete revolution in order to release
it. However, in general, the smaller the amount of revolution
required to remove the closure, the greater the danger that the
closure will be missiled off due to the pressure of the container
contents.
[0052] Similarly, it is required that there be a seal between the
closure and the container when the container is closed in order to
keep the beverage pressurised. However, the greater and more
effective the seal, the greater the risk that the required opening
torque will be unacceptably large.
[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a two-part rotatable
closure 100 for use with a container as indicated in FIG. 1. The
closure 100 comprises a top member 102, for example, made of a
metal, which is generally in the form of a circular disc but has an
annular channel 104 provided therein. Furthermore, the top member
102 is also formed to have a radially extending flange 106. The top
member 102 carries a depending peripheral rim 108 which has two
axially spaced, radially extending flanges 110 and 112 engageable
with the flange 106 of the top member to hold the rim 108 relative
to the top member 102. On the internal annular surface of the rim
108, engagement means, such as a screw thread 120, are provided.
The rim 108 is held on the top member 102 to be freely rotatable
relative thereto.
[0054] The engagement means may comprise a plurality of lugs
arranged to engage with the screw thread 8 on the body member 2 of
the container. Where the screw thread 8 is interrupted, for example
as shown in FIG. 1, the lugs on the closure may be spaced apart by
a distance substantially the same as the length of each length of
the screw thread 8. With this arrangement, the rotatable closure
100 of FIG. 4 may be engaged with the body member by a screw action
which is effective to position each lug beneath a length of the
screw thread 8. Removal of the closure 100 is effected by a reverse
screw action.
[0055] The top member 102 of the closure is shaped to provide
stiffness to the construction and, therefore, to provide the
ability for the closure 100 to withstand the pressure within the
beverage container. In this respect, the top member 102 may have
any suitable shape which imparts the necessary stiffness. For
example, a double curve may be imposed on the top member and/or a
star shape may be impressed therein. Frequently, shapes in which
the top member 102 is inwardly deformed will be used as such shapes
facilitate the incorporation of sealing means as described further
below.
[0056] The embodiments described so far show the use of an
interrupted screw thread on the body member 2 of the container for
engagement with a screw thread or with lugs provided on an inner
surface of a rim of the closure. However, it will be appreciated,
that any cooperable engagement means, which enable the closure to
be reliably engaged on the container, and enable removal of the
closure by a twisting action may be utilised. For example, threads
may be provided on the body member or on the closure and such
threads may be continuous or interrupted. The other of the closure
and the body member may be provided with cooperating threads, with
lugs, recesses, guides, or other formations.
[0057] However, there is an advantage to utilising a screw thread
on one of the container and the closure, and lugs on the other of
the closure or container, as such an arrangement enables pressure
venting for the closure to be provided.
[0058] In this respect, FIG. 2a shows part of the body member 2 of
a is container having a plurality of lugs 30 provided externally of
the body member 2 and around the mouth opening 6. FIG. 2b shows an
extended view of the neck showing the lugs 30, whereas FIG. 2c
shows an extended view of the inner cooperating surface of a
depending peripheral rim of a closure, as 100, which is provided
with an interrupted screw thread 40. This closure 100 is to be used
with the body member 2 of FIG. 2a.
[0059] FIGS. 3a and 3b show adjacent sections or lengths of the
interrupted screw thread 40 provided on the inner surface of the
rim of the closure 100. As can be seen, the lengths of the screw
thread 40 are shaped to guide the lugs 30 during opening and
closing, and at one end, each length of the screw thread 40 has an
angle flat section 42 and at its other end, each length of screw
thread 40 has a further flat 44 terminated in a stop 46. A lug 30
of the body member 2 of the container will lie on a respective
angle flat 42 in the closed condition of the closure.
[0060] When the closure 100 is to be opened, its depending
peripheral rim 108 is rotated relative to the mouth opening 6
whereby each lug 30 is moved along the corresponding length of the
screw thread 40 until the lug 30 is received in the position 30'.
In that position, the stop 46 prevents further relative rotation
between the closure rim and the container. However, if the closure
is then pressed downwardly, the lug 30 is positioned above the stop
46, and further rotation of the closure rim, and hence removal of
the closure, can be achieved. This two stage opening of the closure
allows pressure to be vented whilst the closure and the container
are still engaged. Thus, the stops 46 are effective as
anti-missiling stops.
[0061] It will be appreciated that in the arrangement shown in
FIGS. 3a and 3b, the lengths of screw thread 40 are shaped to have
a variable pitch. By this means, the removal of the closure from
the body member employs a camming action derived from the variation
in pitch. Of course, alternative constructions can be provided.
[0062] The particular screw thread and lug configuration
illustrated is arranged to enable removal of the closure upon
rotation thereof through less than one complete revolution.
Preferably, removal is arranged to occur after about one quarter of
one revolution of the closure.
[0063] As is illustrated in FIG. 4, when the closure 100 is in
position closing a container, the periphery of the container's
mouth opening, as 6, is received within the annular channel 104 as
earlier described. In this respect, and as indicated in FIG. 4, a
sealing compound 122 may be received within the channel 104. The
sealing of the container in the closed position of the closure 100
can thereby be ensured.
[0064] Alternative sealing means, such as a rubber ring (not
shown), may be housed within the channel 104.
[0065] To open a container closed by the closure 100, the rim 108
is grasped, in normal manner, and is rotated relative to the
container. However, whereas with a conventional one part closure
the whole of the closure has to be rotated, opening of the
container utilising a closure as 100 can be achieved by rotation of
the rim 108 only whereby the opening torque is considerably
reduced.
[0066] The closure 100 shown in FIG. 4 may additionally and/or
alternatively be provided with pressure venting means, for example,
in the form of slots (not shown) extending through the rim 108 from
its inner to its outer surface. Such slots, for example, may extend
upwardly from an opening in the inner surface of the rim 108 and
exit in the flange 110. When the rim 108 is rotated to open the
container, the action of the screw thread 120 on the corresponding
thread or lugs of the container lifts the closure and may be
sufficient to partially or fully break any seal between the closure
and the container. This enables pressure from the interior of the
container to be vented by way of the vent slots in the closure.
Continued rotation of the rim 108 then effects removal of the
closure 100.
[0067] Of course, the pressure venting slots may be incorporated in
any suitable area of the closure and/or container. For example,
pressure venting slots may extend through the screw thread 120 of
the closure, and/or through the corresponding screw thread or other
engagement means of the container.
[0068] The rim 108 of the closure may be made of any suitable
material. For example, the rim 108 may be made of a plastics
material. Alternatively, the rim 108 may be made of metal, for
example, it may be a spun or pressed metal threaded band.
[0069] FIG. 5 shows schematically an alternative embodiment of the
closure 100 in which the top member 102 is inwardly deformed. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the top member 102 is inwardly
indented. FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which the top
member 102 is inwardly domed. In both of the embodiments of FIGS. 5
and 6, the inward deformation of the top member 102 increases the
surface area of the top member and hence increases the stiffness of
the closure and its ability to withstand pressure as described
earlier.
[0070] FIG. 7 shows a still further embodiment of the closure 100
in which the radially extending flange 110 of the rim 108 extends
over the top member 102. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7,
the periphery of the mouth opening of a container 160 is shown
received within the annular channel 104 of the closure 100.
[0071] FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of a rotatable closure 200
of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 8 shows part only of
the closure 200 engaging on the annular periphery of the mouth
opening 6 of a container as 2 to close the mouth opening.
[0072] As previously, the rotatable closure 200 is a two-part
closure having a top member 202 from which a depending peripheral
rim 208 extends. The closure 200 shown in FIG. 8 acts as a bore and
top seal which is dynamically sealed in and on the mouth opening
6.
[0073] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the engagement means on
the exterior of the annular periphery of the mouth opening 6 are
not shown. However, it will be appreciated that such engagement
means are provided and are arranged to be engaged by screw threads
220 provided on the depending rim 208.
[0074] The top member 202 of the closure 200 comprises, as can be
seen in FIG. 9, a substantially circular, planar, disc 212 with a
flat outer surface and a plurality of stiffening ribs 210 on its
internal surface. The top member 202 has a radially extending,
circumferential portion 213 extending around the outer
circumference thereof. A first, inner annular rim 214 and a second,
outer annular rim 216 each depend downwardly from said
circumferential portion 213. In the embodiment illustrated, there
are six radially extending internal ribs 210 which extend from the
centre of the disc 212 to the downwardly depending inner rim 214.
It will be seen that the two rims 214 and 216 together define a
downwardly open annular channel 224 which extends annularly around
the circumferential portion 213 of the top member 202.
[0075] The top member 202 may be made of a plastics material or of
a metal. Where it is formed of a plastics material it may be a
coextrusion or co-injection of foil and polypropylene or other
plastics material. It is possible, for example, to mix the plastics
material with an oxygen scavenger before moulding the disc 212.
[0076] As the top, external surface of the central disc 212 is
substantially planar, instructions for use and/or advertising
material may be affixed to the external surface of the top member
202.
[0077] Preferably, the external diameter of the inner rim 214 of
the top member 202 is the same as, or slightly larger than, the
internal diameter of the mouth opening 6 of the container. This
means that the top member 202 has to be forced into position during
closure of the container whereby a very good and efficient seal is
produced within the mouth opening 6.
[0078] As described previously, a sealing member, such as a gasket
(not shown), may be provided in the channel 224 in the top member
202. Additionally and/or alternatively, sealing compound, such as
compound 122, may be provided in the channel 224. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 8, the top of the mouth opening 6 of the container is
provided with a projection 260. This projection is made stiff so
that it can deform the surface of the channel 224 with which it
comes into contact. In this way, further enhanced sealing of the
closure on the mouth opening 6 can be achieved.
[0079] As previously, the rim 208 of the closure is engaged on and
depends from the top member 202 and is rotatably engaged by way of
screw threads 220 on screw threads (not shown in FIG. 8) on the
outer periphery of the mouth opening 6.
[0080] It will be seen from FIG. 8 that the rim 208 has a radially
extending flange 230 which, in the closed position of the closure
200, engages on the top, external surface of the radially extending
circumferential portion 213 of the top member 202. Thus, when the
separate rim 208 of the closure is engaged on the mouth opening 6
to close the container, the rim 208 holds the channel 224 of the
top member 202 in position on the mouth opening 6 to make and
retain a pressure withstanding seal therebetween. Where the
contents of the container are carbonated, the pressure of the
contents will tend to push the inner depending rim 214 of the top
member 202 against the mouth opening 6 whereby a further pressure
seal is made and retained. The strengthening ribs 210 on the top
member 202 prevent bowing of the disc 212 outwardly by the pressure
of the contents.
[0081] Where the contents of the container are beer, for example,
it is generally preferred to fill the container at a temperature of
3.degree. C. or lower to maintain its carbonation during filling.
However, the container has to be capable of withstanding the
pressure of its contents and maintaining the seal of its closure at
temperatures up to 40.degree. C. In a preferred embodiment, at
least the material of the separate rim 208 of the closure 200 and
of the body of the container defining the mouth opening 6 is the
same so that the two elements react similarly as the container is
subjected to differing temperatures. Preferably, both the container
body and at least the separate rim 208 of the closure are of an
appropriate plastics material.
[0082] It will be appreciated that the container and its closure
200, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, provide sealing against the
pressure of the container contents both within the inner diameter,
or bore, of the mouth opening 6 and at the top surface of the mouth
opening. This top and bore seal is, because of the construction of
the closure 200, dynamically reactive to the pressure of the
contents. Nevertheless, because only the separate rim 208 of the
closure has to be rotated to release the closure, opening of the
container by removal of the closure 200 is relatively simple. Once
the rim 208 is rotated in an opening direction, the top seal begins
to be released whereby the bore seal can similarly be released. In
general, the construction of the closure and the sequential release
of the seals thereof enable gas to be vented from the container so
that there is no danger of missiling of the closure. However,
pressure venting means to further allow venting on opening and
thereby prevent missiling may also be provided.
[0083] FIG. 10 show an alternative embodiment, similar to that of
FIG. 8, but with an annular projection 270 formed on an interior
surface of the separate rim 208. When the closure 200 is in its
closed position, the outer depending rim 216 of the top member 202
is pinched between the separate rim 208 and the mouth opening 6 of
the container to assist in sealing the container. The pinching
action is able to maintain the seal even where there are different
amounts of creep or contraction in the plastics material of the
container and the closure.
[0084] It will be appreciated that variations to and modifications
in the embodiments as described and illustrated may be made within
the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *