Closure with linerless seal

Abstract

A closure sealingly engages with a container having a generally annular neck having a top edge and inner and outer surfaces and defining a container opening. The closure comprises a generally circular top wall having opposed inner and outer surfaces. A generally annular skirt extends downwardly from the inner surface of the top wall. A plurality of annular seal members, extending downwardly from and integral with the inner surface of the top wall, includes at least a plug seal that engages with the inner surface of the neck to create a first seal therebetween, a V-ring seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a second seal therebetween, and a flexible seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a third seal therebetween.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/551,125, filed Mar. 8, 2004, with the same title.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention generally relates to closures for containers and, more particularly, to caps that seal containers without the use of a separate liner or O-ring seal.

[0003] Caps having separate liners or O-ring seals are generally known. The liners and O-rings in these types of caps are generally located on an inner side of a top wall of the cap. These caps generally operate by compressing the liners or O-ring seals between a top edge of a neck of the container and the top wall of the cap.

[0004] Caps having flexible or rigid flanges that extend from an inner top wall of the cap to seal a mouth of a bottle when the flexible seal is brought into contact with the surface of the bottle adjacent the neck are generally known. Specifically, caps having rigid plug seals, rigid V-ring seals, or flexible flap seals are known. However, none incorporate all three types of seals in a single cap.

[0005] The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art by eliminating the additional cost and manufacturing time required to produce caps with separate liners or O-rings. Additionally, the present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art by providing a closure having multiple types of seals to decrease the possibility of leaking.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Briefly stated, the present invention is a closure for a container having a generally annular neck defining a container opening. The neck has a top edge and inner and outer surfaces. The closure comprises a generally circular top wall having opposed inner and outer surfaces. A generally annular skirt extends downwardly from the inner surface of the top wall. The generally annular skirt has opposed outer and inner surfaces. A plurality of annular seal members extends downwardly from and is integral with the inner surface of the top wall. The plurality of seal members has at least a plug seal that engages with the inner surface of the neck to create a first seal therebetween, a V-ring seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a second seal therebetween, and a flexible seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a third seal therebetween.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention is a combination container and closure system comprising a container having a generally annular neck defining a container opening. The neck has a top edge and inner and outer surfaces. A closure has a generally circular top wall having opposed inner and outer surfaces. A generally annular skirt extends downwardly from the inner surface of the top wall. The generally annular skirt has opposed outer and inner surfaces. A plurality of annular seal members extends downwardly from and is integral with the inner surface of the top wall. The plurality of annular seal members includes at least a plug seal that engages with the inner surface of the neck to create a first seal therebetween, a V-ring seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a second seal therebetween, and flexible seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a third seal therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0009] In the drawings:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a closure having a linerless seal in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of the closure of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 1 secured to a container; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of the closure and container of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words "right," "left," "upper," and "lower" designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

[0015] Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 a preferred embodiment of a closure, indicated generally at 10, having a linerless seal in accordance with the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the closure 10 has a generally flat and generally circular top wall 12 having opposed inner and outer surfaces, a generally annular skirt or sidewall 13 extending downwardly from the inner surface of the top wall 12 and having opposed inner and outer surfaces, and an open bottom side. Closure threads 14 are disposed on the inner surface of the sidewall 13.

[0016] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, extending downwardly from and integral with the inner surface of the top wall 12 are a plurality of annular seal members, including at least a cylindrical plug seal 16, a V-ring seal 18, and a flexible seal 20. The plug seal 16 is generally rigid and has a generally finger-shaped cross-section. The plug seal 16 has a small indentation 16a proximate its junction with the top wall 12. The V-ring seal 18 is generally rigid and has a generally V-shaped cross section. The V-ring seal 18 is located slightly radially outwardly from the plug seal 16. The flexible seal 20 is located slightly radially outwardly from the V-ring seal 18 and has a generally finger-shaped cross-section. The plug seal 16, the V-ring seal 18, and the flexible seal 20 are all generally circular when viewed from below and generally centered about a center of the top wall 12.

[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 3-4, the closure 10 is intended to be sealingly engaged with a container 40. The container 40 has a generally annular neck 42 having container threads 44 along an outer surface of the neck. The neck 42 defines a generally circular opening therein. The neck 42 has a top edge 42a and a small lip 42b, protruding inwardly from an inner surface and located proximate the top edge 42a of the neck 42.

[0018] Interaction of the closure threads 14 with the container threads 44 allow the closure 10 to be threadingly engaged onto the neck 42 of the container 40. The closure 10 acts to seal the neck 42 of the container 40 in order to inhibit contents (not shown) of the container 40 from leaking out of or otherwise escaping from the container 40.

[0019] Preferably, the closure 10 is made of polypropylene and the container 40 is made of high density polyethylene, and both are formed through an injection or blow molding process. Although this is preferred, it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention that the closure 10 and the container 40 be made of different types of polymeric material (or even materials other than polymeric material) using a process other than injection or blow molding, such as vacuum molding, for instance.

[0020] In operation, the closure 10 is threadably secured to the container 40. As the closure 10 is rotated into a seated position, the lip 42b of the neck 42 of the container 40 slides along an outside surface 16b of the plug seal 16. As the closure 10 moves further into the seated position, a tip of the flexible seal 20 interacts with the top edge 42a of the neck 42 and begins deflecting upwardly and outwardly. When the closure 10 reaches the seated position, the lip 42b of the neck 42 snaps into the indentation 16a of the plug seal 16 to create an interference fit between the lip 42b and the indentation 16a. Additionally, the outside surface 16b of the plug seal 16 preferably engages with the inner surface of the neck 42 to form an interference fit between at least a portion of the outside surface 16b of the plug seal 16 and at least a portion of the inner surface of the neck 42. The flexible seal 20 is deflected further outward and upward so as to become compressed within a gap between the top edge 42a and the top wall 12, thereby effectively closing the gap. Lastly, the V-ring seal 18 engages with the tope edge 42a, slightly biting into the top edge 42a to form an interference fit between the V-ring seal 18 and the top edge 42a of the neck 42.

[0021] In this way, the closure 10 effectively forms three seals with the neck 42 of the container 40: (1) the interference fit between the plug seal 16 and inner surface of the neck 42, (2) the interference fit between the V-ring seal 18 and the top edge 42a of the neck 42, and (3) the compression of the flexible seal 20 between the top edge 42a of the neck 42 and the top wall 12. By sealing the neck 42 of the container 40 at three separate locations, as above-described, the contents of the container 40 are effectively inhibited from escaping from the container 40 without the need for a separate liner or O-ring seal.

[0022] Although the closure 10 shown is of a simple screw-on configuration, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be used with any type of cap. For instance, the present invention could be used with a double-shell, child-resistant cap which requires a user to push downwardly on the top surface of the outer shell of the cap while rotating it in a loosening direction in order to remove the cap from the bottle. A more detailed explanation of the structures and operation of the double-shell, child-resistant cap are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,216 B1, entitled "Child-Resistant Cap", which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0023] The closure 10 of the present invention overcomes two major drawbacks of the prior art. Firstly, there is no need for a separate liner or separate O-ring seal when using the closure 10 of the present invention. Therefore, the additional expense and time of performing the extra step of attaching such a liner or seal is avoided. Secondly, the closure 10 incorporates three different seals, namely the plug seal 16, the V-ring seal 18, and the flexible seal 20, to inhibit leakage of the contents from the bottle 40. Having three seals allows for a double-redundant system in which there are two back-up seals to inhibit leakage should one of the three seals allow leakage.

[0024] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A closure for a container having a generally annular neck defining a container opening, the neck having a top edge and inner and outer surfaces, the closure comprising: a generally circular top wall having opposed inner and outer surfaces; a generally annular skirt extending downwardly from the inner surface of the top wall, the generally annular skirt having opposed outer and inner surfaces; and a plurality of annular seal members extending downwardly from and integral with the inner surface of the top wall, the plurality of seal members having at least a plug seal that engages with the inner surface of the neck to create a first seal therebetween, a V-ring seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a second seal therebetween, and a flexible seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a third seal therebetween.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the plug seal is generally rigid and has an indentation proximate the top wall that engages with a lip on the inner surface of the neck proximate the top edge to form an interference fit between the lip and the indentation.

3. The closure of claim 1 wherein the plug seal is generally rigid and has an outside surface that engages with the inner surface of the neck to form an interference fit between at least a portion of the outside surface of the plug seal and at least a portion of the inner surface of the neck.

4. The closure of claim 1 wherein the V-ring seal is generally rigid and engages with the top edge of the neck to form an interference fit.

5. The closure of claim 1 wherein the flexible seal deflects to become compressed between the top edge of the neck and the inner surface of the top wall.

6. The closure of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the neck have mating threads, whereby the closure is threadingly engaged with the neck of the container to engage the plurality of seal members with the neck of the container, thereby sealing the opening of the container.

7. A combination container and closure system comprising: a container having a generally annular neck defining a container opening, the neck having a top edge and inner and outer surfaces; and a closure having a generally circular top wall having opposed inner and outer surfaces, a generally annular skirt extending downwardly from the inner surface of the top wall, the generally annular skirt having opposed outer and inner surfaces, and a plurality of annular seal members extending downwardly from and integral with the inner surface of the top wall, wherein the plurality of annular seal members includes at least a plug seal that engages with the inner surface of the neck to create a first seal therebetween, a V-ring seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a second seal therebetween, and a flexible seal that engages with the top edge of the neck to create a third seal therebetween.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the plug seal is generally rigid and has an indentation proximate the top wall that engages with a lip on the inner surface of the neck proximate the top edge to form an interference fit between the lip and the indentation.

9. The closure of claim 7 wherein the plug seal is generally rigid and has an outside surface that engages with the inner surface of the neck to form an interference fit between at least a portion of the outside surface of the plug seal and at least a portion of the inner surface of the neck.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein the V-ring seal is generally rigid and engages with the top edge of the neck to form an interference fit.

11. The combination of claim 7 wherein the flexible seal deflects to become compressed between the top edge of the neck and the inner surface of the top wall.

12. The combination of claim 7 wherein the inner surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the neck have mating threads, whereby the closure is threadingly engaged with the neck of the container to engage the plurality of seal members with the neck of the container, thereby sealing the opening of the container.