U.S. patent application number 11/196937 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-15 for bottle with retained ring finish feature.
Invention is credited to Douglas J. Hidding.
Application Number | 20070034590 11/196937 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37741642 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070034590 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hidding; Douglas J. |
February 15, 2007 |
Bottle with retained ring finish feature
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a bottle neck finish and a
tamper resistant bottle cap that satisfy the need to retain the
ratchet ring in place after the bottle cap has been removed from
the bottle. Specifically, the present inventions incorporate
features onto one or both of a bottle neck and a threaded cap
having a frangibly connected ratchet ring. In one embodiment of the
present invention, the claimed features create frictional
engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The
frictional resistance effectively prevents the ratchet ring from
falling off the bottle neck when the user pours the contents of the
bottle. In another embodiment, the claimed features create an
interference between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The
interference prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle
neck.
Inventors: |
Hidding; Douglas J.;
(Barrington Hills, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David I. Roche;Baker & McKenzie
Suite 3900
130 E. Randolph Drive
Chicago
IL
60601
US
|
Family ID: |
37741642 |
Appl. No.: |
11/196937 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/3409 20130101;
B65D 1/0246 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/252 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/00 20060101
B65D051/00 |
Claims
1. A bottle neck adapted to engage with a cap having an offset
ratchet ring comprising: an opening at an upper end of the neck; an
exterior surface having at least one thread adapted to engage with
the cap; at least one ratchet portion disposed on the exterior
surface below the at least one thread, wherein the at least one
ratchet portion has at least one ratchet tooth and is adapted to
engage with the ratchet ring; and, at least one projection disposed
on the exterior surface below the at least one thread, wherein the
at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the
bottle neck after the cap is removed from the bottle neck.
2. The bottle neck of claim 1 further comprising the cap having the
ratchet ring.
3. The bottle neck of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection
has a chamfered top edge.
4. The bottle neck of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection
is formed by a lip.
5. The bottle neck of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection
is formed by at least one enlarged ratchet tooth.
6. The bottle neck of claim 1 wherein there are two diametrically
opposite projections and two diametrically opposite ratchet
portions.
7. The bottle neck of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection
is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by
friction.
8. The bottle neck of claim 7 wherein the at least one projection
is adapted to contact an inside surface of the ratchet ring.
9. The bottle neck of claim 8 wherein the inside surface is a tip
of a ratchet tooth.
10. The bottle neck of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection
is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by
interference.
11. The bottle neck of claim 10 wherein the at least one projection
is adapted to contact an upper surface of the ratchet ring when the
ratchet ring is moved axially along the bottle neck.
12. The bottle neck of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection
and the at least one ratchet portion are in approximately a same
cross-sectional plane.
13. In combination, a bottle neck and a bottle cap: the bottle cap
comprising a circular cover, a skirt depending from the periphery
of the cover, the skirt including an interior surface having at
least one thread, and a tamper evidencing ratchet ring frangibly
connected below the skirt, wherein the ratchet ring has at least
one ratchet tooth; the bottle neck comprising an opening at an
upper end of the neck, an exterior surface having at least one
corresponding thread, at least one ratchet portion disposed on the
exterior surface below the at least one corresponding thread,
wherein the at least one ratchet portion has at least one
corresponding ratchet tooth which is adapted to engage with the at
least one ratchet tooth of the cap when the cap is placed on the
bottle neck, and at least one projection disposed on the exterior
surface below the at least one thread, wherein the at least one
projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck
after the cap is removed from the bottle neck.
14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the at least one projection
has a chamfered top edge.
15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the at least one projection
is formed by a lip.
16. The combination of claim 13 wherein the at least one projection
is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by
friction.
17. The combination of claim 13 wherein the at least one projection
is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by
interference.
18. The combination of claim 13 wherein the at least one projection
and the at least one ratchet portion are in approximately a same
cross-sectional plane.
19. The combination of claim 13 wherein there are two diametrically
opposite projections and two diametrically opposite ratchet
portions.
20. The combination of claim 19 wherein: the ratchet ring has a
plurality of inward facing ratchet teeth, each having a tip; the
plurality of tips defining a first diameter; the two projections
each having an outside edge; the distance between the two outside
edges defining a second diameter; and, the second diameter is
greater than the first diameter.
21. The combination of claim 20 wherein the at least one projection
is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by
friction.
22. The combination of claim 20 wherein the at least one projection
is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by
interference.
23. In combination, a bottle neck and a bottle cap: the bottle cap
being molded from a two plate mold; the bottle cap comprising a
circular cover, a skirt depending from the periphery of the cover,
the skirt including an interior surface having at least one thread,
and a tamper evidencing ratchet ring frangibly connected below the
skirt, wherein the ratchet ring has a plurality of ratchet teeth;
the bottle neck comprising an opening at an upper end of the neck,
an exterior surface having at least one corresponding thread, two
diametrically opposite ratchet portions disposed on the exterior
surface below the at least one corresponding thread, wherein each
ratchet portion has a plurality of corresponding ratchet teeth
which are adapted to engage with the plurality of ratchet teeth of
the cap when the cap is placed on the bottle neck, and two
diametrically opposite projections disposed on the exterior surface
below the at least one thread, wherein the two projections are
adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck after the cap
is removed from the bottle neck.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to containers with closure devices,
and in particular, relates to the neck finish of a blow molded
bottle adapted for use with a cap having a ratchet ring. The neck
is formed with at least one projection for retaining the ratchet
ring when the cap is removed. In the alternative, this invention
relates to a ratchet ring for a screw cap adapted to engage with
the neck of a blow molded bottle to prevent the ratchet ring from
falling off of the bottle when the contents are poured.
[0002] Blow molded bottles have been used in conjunction with
injection molded caps for many years. Generally, two types of
bottle caps are available for blow molded bottles, push-on caps and
thread-on caps. Push-on caps are installed by aligning the cap with
the opening of a bottle and simply applying an axial force to the
top of the cap. Thread-on caps generally require that the cap and
bottle be aligned and that a rotative force be applied to the
cap.
[0003] There are generally two types of thread-on caps, both have
rings depending from the cap, but the ring in one type is offset
from the cap; i.e. the ring has a larger diameter than the cap.
With this type of design the ring is offset from the cap, allowing
the ring and frangible connections to be molded with a two plate
mold. Conversely, the other design of threaded caps must be molded
with side action, which is a much more complex process with moving
parts. This invention generally relates to thread-on caps with
offset rings.
[0004] One of the problems associated with those types of injection
molded caps relates to the tamper-evident connection which must be
created between the bottle cap and bottle. One method of forming
that tamper-evident connection is to use an offset ring having
ratchet teeth; i.e. a ratchet ring. The ratchet ring has internal
teeth for engagement with the bottle neck, which has external
teeth. When the bottle cap is screwed on the bottle neck, the
ratchet teeth of the bottle cap ride over the mating ratchet teeth
on the bottle neck, thereby enabling the bottle cap to be fully
tightened on the bottle neck. However, when a user attempts to
unscrew the bottle cap using low-to-medium twisting force, the
ratchet teeth of the bottle cap positively engage the mating
ratchet teeth of the bottle neck, thereby preventing unthreading
and unsealing of the cap. When higher levels of twisting force are
applied to the bottle cap in the direction of unscrewing, the
ratchet ring breaks away from the bottle cap and the bottle cap may
be unscrewed from the bottle neck. In this manner, breakage of the
connection between the ratchet ring and the bottle cap serves as
visual evidence that the bottle has been opened.
[0005] While the use of a bottle neck with ratchet teeth in
combination with a bottle cap having a tamper evidencing ring
provides for an acceptable tamper-evident connection, this
combination does have its limitations. After removing the cap for
the first time, effectively breaking the frangible connection
between the cap and the ratchet ring, users sometimes forget to
remove the ratchet ring from the bottle neck before pouring the
contents into a glass. Subsequently, the ratchet ring will fall
into the user's glass when the contents are poured. With respect to
single use bottles which users drink from directly, the ratchet
ring will fall into the user's face when they attempt to take a sip
from the bottle. Such results are undesirable for convenience of
use and hygienic reasons.
[0006] For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved
neck finish which is adapted to retain the ratchet ring in place on
the bottle neck when the user pours the contents after removing the
cap. There is a further need for an improved ratchet ring which is
adapted to hold itself in place on the bottle neck when the user
pours the contents after removing the cap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to a bottle neck finish
and a tamper resistant bottle cap that satisfy the need to retain
the ratchet ring in place after the bottle cap has been removed
from the bottle. Specifically, the present inventions incorporate
features onto one or both of a bottle neck and a threaded cap
having a frangibly connected ratchet ring. In one embodiment of the
present invention, the claimed features create frictional
engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The
frictional resistance effectively prevents the ratchet ring from
falling off the bottle neck when the user pours the contents of the
bottle. In another embodiment, the claimed features create an
interference between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The
interference prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle
neck.
[0008] Although not necessary, it is generally preferred that the
ratchet ring be easily removed by the user. Spilled liquids such as
milk can dry between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck to form
unsightly crust which could fall into the user's glass upon the
next use. Thus, in multi-use bottles, it is advantageous for the
user to be able to remove the ratchet ring to prevent crust
build-up. In contrast, it may be beneficial to have a stronger
engagement between the bottle neck and the ratchet ring for single
use applications. Single use bottles are generally used while
on-the-go and away from home where garbage cans are not always
readily available. Thus, if the ratchet ring were easily removed on
a single use bottles, users would be more likely to improperly
dispose of the ratchet ring.
[0009] In a first embodiment of the present invention, features are
incorporated into a bottle neck finish. The bottle neck of the
present invention is preferably adapted for use with standard
bottles caps having standard ratchet rings, although the present
invention is not limited as such. The bottle neck generally
includes an opening at its upper end for pouring of contents, a
generally cylindrical exterior surface having threads for retaining
a bottle cap, a circumferential ratchet portion below the threads,
and a circumferential transfer ring below the ratchet portion. The
ratchet portion includes ratchet teeth which are capable of meshing
with a matching set of ratchet teeth on a bottle cap. The bottle
neck of the present invention also includes a projection which is
adapted to engage the ratchet ring of the bottle cap. The
projection can be adapted to engage the ratchet ring by friction
and/or interference.
[0010] To engage the ratchet ring by friction, the projection
contacts an inner surface of the ratchet ring when the bottle cap
is fully threaded onto the bottle neck. The contact point between
the projection and the ratchet ring can occur at any inner surface
of the ratchet ring, including the peaks of the ratchet teeth or
the valleys between adjacent ratchet teeth. This contact biases the
ratchet ring outward to induce tension in the ratchet ring,
providing a tight fit between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck.
The tight fit creates frictional engagement between the ratchet
ring and the bottle neck, preventing the ratchet ring from falling
off of the bottle when the contents are poured. To engage the
ratchet ring by interference, the projection contacts an upwardly
facing surface of the ratchet ring when the ratchet ring moves
axially on the bottle neck, effectively preventing the ratchet ring
from falling off of the bottle neck.
[0011] In a second embodiment, the projection of the present
invention is formed on the ratchet ring. In a similar fashion as
above, the projection can be adapted to engage the bottle neck by
friction and/or interference. To engage the bottle neck by
friction, the projection contacts any outer surface of the bottle
neck. To engage the bottle neck by interference, it may be
necessary to form a corresponding feature on the bottle neck to
allow for the interference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other features, aspects, objects, and advantages
of the inventions described and claimed herein will be become
better understood upon consideration of the following detailed
description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bottle cap and
bottle neck made in accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the bottle neck with the cap removed
and the ratchet ring held in place;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the bottle neck;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of the bottle neck with a partial
cut-away showing the cross section of the bottle neck and a
standard cap;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side view of the bottle neck with a partial
cut-away showing the cross section of the bottle neck and a first
embodiment of a modified cap;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of a modified
cap a partial cut-away showing the inside surface of the bottle
cap' and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a top view of a bottle neck with the second
embodiment of a modified cap installed.
[0020] It should be understood that the drawings are not
necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes
illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic
representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances,
details which are not necessary for an understanding of the
inventions described and claimed herein or which render other
details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be
understood, of course, that the inventions described herein are not
necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated
herein.
[0021] Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like or
similar parts from Figure to Figure in the following description of
the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIG. 1 generally depicts a preferred embodiment of the
bottle neck 14 of the present invention that is adapted for use
with a standard bottle cap 2 having a ratchet ring 8. A standard
bottle cap 2 having a ratchet ring 8 is described herein, although
the bottle neck 14 of the present invention is not limited to use
with such cap. The bottle cap 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a circular
cover 4, a skirt 6 depending from the peripheral edge 5 of the cap,
and a ratchet ring 8 which is frangibly attached below the skirt 6.
The bottle cap 2 has at least one thread on the inside surface of
the depending skirt 6, for engagement with corresponding threads 22
on the bottle neck. The ratchet ring 8 includes a plurality of
ratchet teeth 12, every other one of which are frangibly attached
to a plurality of semi-circular outwardly directed tabs 10 which
are equally spaced around the periphery of the skirt 6. For further
details regarding the bottle cap 2, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,701
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0023] The bottle neck 14 of the present invention is generally
positioned at the top of the body 32 of a blow-molded bottle 34 and
is formed of a generally cylindrical exterior surface 20. At the
top edge of the exterior surface 20 is a lip 18 which defines an
opening 16. The lip 18 is generally inwardly directed to form a
sealing surface for sealing with the bottle cap 2. A liner, while
not shown, may be placed between the cap 2 and lip 18 for purposes
such as to enhance sealing of the bottle or to provide a second
level of tamper-evidency. The exterior surface 20 includes at least
one, and preferably four, threads 22 which engage threads on the
inside surface of the cap skirt 6.
[0024] The bottle neck 14 further includes at least one, and
preferably two, ratchet portions 24 having at least one, and
preferably a plurality of ratchet teeth 26. The two ratchet
portions 24 are located diametrically opposite each other on the
exterior surface 20 below the threads 22. The bottle neck 14
includes at least one projection 28 for engagement with the ratchet
ring 8. The bottle neck 14 also includes a circumferential "bumper
roll" or transfer ring 30 located below the ratchet portions 24 and
projections 28 to facilitate gripping the bottle during the filling
operation and grabbing the bottle during the loading of the bottle
into a shipping container.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view of the bottle neck 14 is
shown in frictional engagement with the ratchet ring 8 with the
bottle cap 2 removed. FIG. 2 shows best how the ratchet ring 8
engages with the external ratchet teeth 26 of the bottle neck 14.
The ratchet ring 8, being preferably made of low density plastic,
is flexible enough such that the internal teeth 12 ride over the
external teeth 26 when clockwise force is applied to the ratchet
ring 8. However, when counter-clockwise force is applied the
ratchet ring 8, the peaks 9 of the internal teeth 12 positively
engage with the external teeth 26 effectively preventing rotation
of the ratchet ring 8. FIG. 2 also demonstrates the frictional
engagement of the present invention. The projections 28 extend
outwardly from the external surface 20 and contact a portion of the
inside surface 11 of the ratchet ring 8. In the preferred
embodiment, the projection 28 is formed as an elongated lip which
contacts at least one, and preferably a plurality of internal teeth
12 at the tips 9, although the invention is not limited as such.
For example, the projection 28 could be short and thus engage the
inside surface 11 of the ratchet ring 8 between adjacent teeth
12.
[0026] Turning now to FIG. 3, a side view of the preferred bottle
neck 14 is shown. The external surface 20 of the bottle neck is
shown to be generally cylindrical in shape with a generally flat
step 36 formed below the threads 22. Preferably, the projection 28
and the ratchet portions 24 are formed on the stepped out portion
38 of the external surface 20. As shown in FIG. 4, a partial
cut-away view of the bottle neck, the cross-section of the
projection 28 is preferably triangular in shape, with the top
surface 40 of the projection 28 generally parallel to and extending
from the step 36. In an alternate embodiment, the projection 28 may
have a chamfered top surface 40 to facilitate application of the
bottle cap 2 to the bottle neck 14.
[0027] FIG. 4 also demonstrates the frictional engagement between
the bottle neck 14 and the ratchet ring 8. The projection 28 is
shown contacting the tip 9 of an external tooth 12 forcing the
ratchet ring 8 outwardly away from the bottle neck 14 and inducing
normal forces between the contacting surfaces of the ratchet ring 8
and projection 28. When a user attempts to pour the contents of the
bottle 34, the gravitational force on the ratchet ring 8 is not
sufficient to exceed the static frictional force, preventing the
ring 8 from falling off of the bottle neck 14.
[0028] FIG. 5 demonstrates the interference engagement between the
bottle neck and the ratchet ring 8. When a bottle cap 2 having a
ratchet ring 8 is applied to the bottle neck, the projection 28 is
positioned between the bottle cap 2 and the ratchet ring 8. When
the contents of the bottle 34 are poured, gravitational forces
cause the ratchet ring 8 to move axially along the bottle neck 14.
However, the projection 28 prevents the ratchet ring 8 from falling
off by contacting an upper surface of the ratchet ring 42.
[0029] It may be necessary to modify the standard cap 2 described
herein to allow for an interference engagement between the bottle
neck 14 and ratchet ring 8. The ratchet ring 8 of the standard cap
2 is generally placed nearly flush against the bottom edge 44 of
the cap 2, as shown in FIG. 4. Such flush placement of the ratchet
ring 8 would prevent the projection from extending between the cap
2 and the ring 8. Accordingly, in a first embodiment to the
modified cap 2, as shown in FIG. 5, elongated frangible connections
46 are utilized to increase the gap between the ratchet ring 8 and
the bottle cap 2. Whereas the prior art connections extend between
the outwardly extending tabs and the internal ratchet teeth 12, the
frangible connections 46 of the present invention preferably extend
between the outwardly extending tabs 10 and the upper surface 42 of
the ratchet ring at approximately the interface 48 between the
internal teeth 12 and the ratchet ring band 50. The frangible
connection 46 must be moved outwardly to prevent interference
between the frangible connection 46 and the projection 28 when the
cap 2 is applied to the bottle neck 14.
[0030] A second embodiment of the modified bottle cap 2 is depicted
in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a side view of the bottle cap 2 with a partial
cut away showing the inside surfaces of the bottle cap 2 and
ratchet ring 8. The ratchet ring 8 is maintained nearly flush to
the bottom surface 44 of the bottle cap 2, but is characterized in
that at least one portion of the band 50 is stepped down. As
before, every other ratchet tooth 12a is frangibly attached to the
tabs 10 by frangible connections 46. However, the band 50 has at
least one stepped-down portion 56, each of which are preferably
characterized by two ramped segments 52 and a top surface 54. There
is at least one stepped down tooth 12b placed on the inside surface
of the stepped-down portion 56, each having a height "b." The
remaining teeth 12a have a height "a" which is greater than height
"b." Therefore, a gap is formed between the bottom surface 44 of
the cap 2 and the top surface 54 of the stepped-down portion 56 to
facilitate engagement between the teeth 12b and the projection 28
by interference.
[0031] Turning now to FIG. 7, a top view of the bottle neck 14 is
shown with the second embodiment of the modified bottle cap 2
installed. FIG. 7 shows every other ratchet tooth 12a frangibly
connected 46 to the tabs 10 of the bottle cap 2. While only one
stepped down tooth 12b is necessary, it is preferable that every
fourth tooth is a stepped-down tooth 12b, as shown in the Figure.
Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 7, there are two projections 28
which have a length appropriately sized and located to engage only
with the top surface of two of the stepped-down teeth 12b. Special
attention may be necessary during application of the bottle cap 2
to the bottle neck 14 to ensure that the projections 28 are
appropriately aligned with the stepped-down portions 56.
[0032] While the projections 28 described herein is preferred to be
located on the bottle neck 14, in an alternative embodiment, the
projection 28 may be located on the inside surface of the ratchet
ring 8. The projection would engage with any portion of the outside
surface of the bottle neck 14, including the external surface 20
(which includes the stepped out portion 38) and the ratchet
portions 24, by friction or interference.
[0033] The projections 28 of the present invention, whether located
on the bottle neck 14 or on the ratchet ring 8, are not limited to
any particular shape or location. Preferably, and as shown in FIG.
1, there are two projections 28 which are formed as lips which
extend outward from the bottle neck 14. The projections 28
preferably share a common cross-sectional plane as the ratchet
portions 24, of which there are preferably two portions. However,
the projection 28 may be above or below the ratchet portion.
Preferably, the ratchet portions 24 and the projections 28
alternate around the periphery of the bottle neck, with the two
projections 28 diametrically opposite each other and the ratchet
portions 24 diametrically opposite each other. Alternatively, the
projection 28 can be incorporated into the ratchet portions 24 on
the bottle neck or into the ratchet ring 8. For example, the
projection 28 can be incorporated into one or more of the ratchet
teeth 26 or 12 on either the bottle neck or the ratchet ring,
respectively. The projection 28 can also take form as an enlarged
ratchet tooth 26 or 12, either on the bottle neck or on the ratchet
ring, respectively. Alternatively, the projection 28 can be
incorporated into one or more of the valleys between the ratchet
teeth 26 or 12 on either the bottle neck or the ratchet ring,
respectively, by decreasing the depth of the valley.
[0034] Although the inventions described and claimed herein have
been described in considerable detail with reference to certain
preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that
the inventions described and claimed herein can be practiced by
other than the preferred embodiments, which have been presented for
purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the
spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to
the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.
* * * * *