U.S. patent application number 11/559796 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-15 for audible closing feature for a threaded container and lid.
Invention is credited to Andrew Thomas Tilton.
Application Number | 20080110850 11/559796 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39043495 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080110850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tilton; Andrew Thomas |
May 15, 2008 |
AUDIBLE CLOSING FEATURE FOR A THREADED CONTAINER AND LID
Abstract
An audible closing feature for threaded containers with a
threaded lid, the container and lid including a lug and notch
arrangement that provides an audible indication that the lid is
sufficiently closing the container as well as providing for minimal
resistance when removing the lid from the container. The audible
closing feature further reduces or eliminates backoff between the
lid and container during transport and/or storage. The lid and
container contain at least one of either the lugs and notches, such
that a lug is received by a notch to provide the audible indication
that the lid is sufficiently closing the container.
Inventors: |
Tilton; Andrew Thomas;
(Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITCH EVEN TABIN & FLANNERY
120 S. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60603-3406
US
|
Family ID: |
39043495 |
Appl. No.: |
11/559796 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/330 ;
220/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/01 20130101;
B65D 41/0471 20130101; B65D 51/248 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/330 ;
220/319 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20060101
B65D041/04; B65D 39/08 20060101 B65D039/08 |
Claims
1. A container with an audible closing feature, the container
comprising: a body with a neck surrounding an opening; external
threading on the neck having at least one notch; a lid having a top
wall and a depending skirt therefrom; and internal threading on the
skirt for engagement with the external threading on the neck, at
least one radially inward extending lug on the skirt and positioned
between the internal threading and the top wall for insertion into
the notches on the external threading with an audible
indication.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the external
threading on the neck has at least three notches generally
equidistantly spaced and at least three radially inward extending
lugs generally equidistantly spaced.
3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the external
threading having at least three discontinuous external threads
along an exterior surface of the neck, the external threading
angled such that an uppermost end of a first external thread
overlaps a lowermost end of a second external thread and the
uppermost end of the first external thread contains the notch, and
the internal threading having at least three discontinuous internal
threads along an interior surface of the skirt, the internal
threading angled such that an uppermost end of a first internal
thread overlaps a lowermost end of a second internal thread and
each of the lugs positioned between the uppermost end of the
adjacent internal threading and an interior surface of the top
wall, along the interior surface of the skirt.
4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the at least three
notches are positioned adjacent an end point of the at least three
discontinuous external threads such that each of the discontinuous
external threads comprises a long segment and a short segment
separated by the notch.
5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the at least three
lugs are positioned adjacent an end point of the at least three
discontinuous internal threads.
6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the number of
notches is different than the number of lugs.
7. The container according to claim 5, wherein the number of
notches and the number of lugs is four.
8. The container according to claim 6, wherein the lug engages with
the discontinuous external thread to uniformly deform at least one
of the neck of the container and the skirt of the lid until the lug
is aligned with the notch in the neck.
9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the lug engages with
a ramp portion of the discontinuous external thread, the ramp
portion positioned on the short segment of the discontinuous
external thread.
10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the audible
indication is created when the lug snaps into place within the
notch, indicating that the lid is sufficiently rotated to a closed
position.
11. The container according to claim 10, wherein the lug has a
circumferential length larger than the circumferential length of
the notch.
12. The container according to claim 10, wherein the engagement of
the lug with the threads of the container prevents back-off between
the lid and the container during transporting and movement of the
container.
13. The container according to claim 10, wherein each of the lugs
has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge is the
first edge of the lug to contact the notch and is curved.
14. The container according to claim 10, wherein each of the lugs
has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge is the
first edge of the lug to contact the notch and is linear.
15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the external
threading having four discontinuous external threads along an
exterior surface of the neck and each having a notch, the internal
threading having four discontinuous internal threads along an
interior surface of the skirt, and four lugs positioned between the
uppermost end of the internal threading and an interior surface of
the top wall, along the interior surface of the skirt.
16. The container according to claim 15, wherein the lug has a
circumferential length larger than the circumferential length of
the notch.
17. The container according to claim 15, wherein the audible
indication is created when the lug snaps into place within the
notch, indicating that the lid is sufficiently rotated into a
closed position.
18. A method of providing an audible indication of the position of
a lid on a container comprising: providing at least three lugs
generally equidistantly spaced between internal threading and a top
wall of a lid; providing at least three notches generally
equidistantly spaced on external threading of a neck on a container
body; deforming at least one of the neck of the container and the
skirt of the lid by engaging the lugs with the external threading;
and returning at least one of the neck of the container and the
skirt of the lid to an undeformed state by aligning the lug with
the notch in the external threading.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the external
threading has at least three discontinuous external threads along
an exterior surface of the neck, the external threading angled such
that an uppermost end of a first external thread overlaps a
lowermost end of a second external thread and the uppermost end of
the first external thread contains the notch, and the internal
threading has at least three discontinuous internal threads along
an interior surface of the skirt, the internal threading angled
such that an uppermost end of a first internal thread overlaps a
lowermost end of a second internal thread and each of the lugs
positioned between the uppermost end of the adjacent internal
threading and an interior surface of the top wall, along the
interior surface of the skirt.
20. A container with an audible closing feature, the container
comprising: a lid having a top wall and a depending skirt
therefrom; internal threading on the skirt having at least one
notch; a body with a neck surrounding an opening; external
threading on the neck for engagement with the internal threading on
the skirt, at least one radially outward extending lug on the neck
positioned between the external threading and the opening for
insertion into the at least one notch on the internal threading
with an audible indication.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to an audible closing
feature for threaded containers and lids, and more specifically to
a lug and notch arrangement that provides an audible indication
that the lid is sufficiently closing the container.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Threaded containers and lid closures may contain various
mating arrangements therebetween. Typical arrangements may provide
notches, or protrusions, in or adjacent to the threads of one or
both of the lid and container to perform various functions.
[0003] One such function is to provide a venting path to allow
pressure within the container to escape. Pressure venting systems
can include notches in the threads of the lid and/or the threads of
the container. Containers with pressure venting systems can be used
in packaging beverages under pressure, such as carbonated
beverages. U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,280 provides notches in the threads
of the lid for venting. U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,633 provides notches in
the threads of the container for venting. U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,930
provides notches in the threads of both the lid and container for
venting. However, none of the above-mentioned patents discloses
providing an audible indication when the lid is sufficiently
closing the container.
[0004] Another function of lid and container mating arrangements is
to provide a locking feature between the lid and container. One
purpose of this locking feature is to provide a child-proof safety
lock, such that the lid is not easily removed from the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,590 discloses a lug and pocket device where the
lid contains lugs in the threads of the lid that fit into pockets
that are in the threads of the container. It is further disclosed
that when it is attempted to remove the closure from the container,
a lug abutment face will cooperate with a pocket abutment face to
prevent unscrewing of the closure in the absence of a sufficient
axial force on the closure to compress a spring that permits the
lugs to clear the pockets. U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,717 discloses a
series of ratchet portions at the end of the thread of the
container which engage with a series of ratchet teeth in the lid.
To open the container after closing, disengagement of the teeth
from the ratchet portion must first be achieved before the lid can
be rotated in an opening direction. This is done by applying an
axial downward force to the closure/lid in order to disengage the
teeth from the ratchet portion. U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,421 discloses a
lug and detent system in either the lid or container that provides
resistance to cap rotation in an opening direction of rotation. The
lug and detent are both formed on the thread of its respective part
(i.e., lid or container). The lugs are downwardly projecting lugs
in the form of a right triangle with a sloping side such that
rotation in the opposite direction (i.e., unlocking direction) is
significantly impeded due to the vertical side of the lug becoming
lodged against the wall of the detent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,616
discloses a child safety lock feature where a lid includes an inner
cap, a middle cap, and an outer cap. The inner cap has threaded
portions for engagement with threaded portions of a container. The
middle cap, which is next to the inner cap, rotates with the inner
cap and locks in place as the inner cap is in a fully closed
position. To close the lid, the outer cap is rotated, and as it
rotates the middle and inner caps are rotated until fully closed.
Once fully closed, the inner and middle caps will no longer rotate
when the outer cap is rotated. As the outer cap continues to be
turned, it rotates past the middle cap while the middle cap remains
stationary and provides an audible click sound as it slides past
part of the middle cap. The audible click occurs when a protrusion
on the outer cap contacts the trailing edge of a cam surface of the
middle cap, providing a click when the middle cap is in the fully
closed position. In order to remove the cap, and thus to open the
container, the user must provide both a rotative and an axial force
to disengage the threaded portion of the inner cap from the
threaded portion of the container. Such child-proof safety locks
are specifically designed to impede removal of the lids from the
containers.
[0005] Another function of lid and container mating arrangements is
to provide an anti-backoff system so the lid does not loosen or
backoff from the closed position during transport and/or storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,033 discloses locking the lid in place for the
purpose of preventing backoff of the lid from the container by
providing wedge-shaped teeth along the bottom thread on the lid.
The teeth then abut against the underside of the thread along the
container for the purpose of preventing backoff of the lid during
transport. It is further disclosed that this type of arrangement is
useful only for applications where ready removal of the closure is
not desired. U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,394 discloses providing a series
of alternate ridges and indentations as part of the threads on both
the lid and container rim where a ridge on one engages an
indentation of the other. U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,287 discloses
providing downward extending lugs on the lid and abutments and
projections on the container rim below the threads. The lugs on the
lid engage the abutments to provide an audible click when the lugs
on the interior of the lid rotate past the abutments on the
container. The projections on the container interfere with the
threads on the lid to reduce backoff during transport and/or
storage. However, none of the above-mentioned patents discloses
providing an audible indication when the lid is sufficiently
closing the container.
SUMMARY
[0006] A lug and notch closing feature is disclosed that provides
an audible indication when the lid is sufficiently closing the
container, provides for minimal resistance when removing the lid
from the container, and reduces or eliminates backoff between the
lid and the container during transport and/or storage.
[0007] A container having a body with a neck surrounding an opening
and a lid with a top wall and a skirt depending therefrom are
provided. The neck of the container has external threading located
thereon having at least one notch, and preferably, though not
necessarily, at least three notches generally equidistantly spaced.
The skirt of the lid has internal threading for engagement with the
external threading on the neck and it further has at least one
radially inward extending lug, and preferably, though not
necessarily, at least one lug for each notch with the lugs being
generally equidistantly spaced. The lugs are positioned between the
internal threading and the top wall. To generate an audible
indication that the lid is sufficiently closing the container, the
lugs snap into the notches on the external threading.
[0008] As the lid is rotated about the neck of the container, the
lug contacts a ramp end of the external threading. The lug then
rides up on the ramp end and onto the external threading, uniformly
deforming one or both of the lid and container. The lug then snaps
into the notch providing an audible indication that the lid is
sufficiently rotated into a closed position, and thus returning one
or both of the lid and container to an undeformed, or relaxed,
state.
[0009] In another aspect, the audible closing feature comprises a
similar container and lid, however, the external threading of the
neck has at least one radially outward extending lug, and
preferably, though not necessarily, at least three generally
equidistantly spaced lugs, and the internal threading on the skirt
of the lid has at least one notch, and preferably, though not
necessarily, at least three generally equidistantly spaced notches.
The lugs on the neck of the container are positioned between the
external threading and the opening. The audible indication is
generated by the lugs on the neck snapping into the notches on the
lid.
[0010] A method of providing an audible indication of the position
of the lid on the container comprises providing at least three lugs
generally equidistantly spaced between the internal threading and a
top wall of the lid and providing at least three notches generally
equidistantly spaced on the external threading of the neck of the
container body. At least one of the neck of the container and the
skirt of the lid is uniformly deformed by engaging the lugs with
the external neck threads and aligning the lug with the notch to
return at least one of the neck and the skirt to an undeformed, or
relaxed, state.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a lug on a lid
positioned adjacent the beginning of an external thread on a
container neck;
[0012] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the lug on the lid
positioned on the external thread of the container neck;
[0013] FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the lug on the lid
positioned in a notch in the external thread of the container
neck;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lid;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container with the lid
spaced above the neck of the container; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container neck showing
the external threads and the notch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] An audible closing feature for containers with a threaded
lid, and in particular a lug and notch arrangement is disclosed
herein and illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The container may have at
least one lug in the closure and at least one notch along the
thread of the container for receiving the lug to provide an audible
indication when the lid is sufficiently closing the container, to
provide for minimal resistance when removing the lid from the
container, and to prevent backoff between the lid and container
during transport and/or storage.
[0019] A container and lid both contain threads which engage one
another to secure the lid to the container. The lid may contain at
least one lug, and preferably at least three, positioned between
the top surface of the lid and the topmost portion of the thread.
The lugs may each align with a corresponding notch, or gap, in the
external thread of the container neck when the lid is sufficiently
closing the container or, alternatively, only some of the lugs may
have a corresponding notch with which to align and not all of the
lugs. As the lid is rotated about the container neck, the lugs that
have a corresponding notch to align with will come into contact
with a ramp end of the external thread. As the lug rides up on the
ramp end of the external thread and onto the thread, one or both of
the lid skirt and container neck may be deformed. The deformation
may be uniform if three or more lugs are utilized. The lug slides
along the thread until it snaps into place within the notch on the
external thread. As the lug snaps into the notch, an audible
indication is made to indicate that the lid is sufficiently rotated
into a closed position and that the container is properly closed,
thus providing the consumer an assurance that the container is
adequately closed.
[0020] Additionally, engagement of the lug with the thread of the
container can prevent backoff of the lid from the container during
transport and/or during storage of the container when a tamper
evident film is covering the opening. The film can provide
increased resistance to rotation between the lid and the container,
which can be enhanced when the lugs also contact the film or when
the lugs are in the notches and the film is causing additional
pressure between the threads.
[0021] The container 14 comprises a body 26 with an opening 24 at
one end, and a neck 28 surrounding the opening 24 of the container
14, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. The neck 28 of the container 14
contains external threading 16 for engagement with internal
threading 18 of the lid 12. Additionally, the external threading 16
of the container 14 contains at least one notch 20 in the threading
16 and preferably, though not necessarily, at least three generally
equidistantly spaced notches 20. Alternatively, the container 14
may contain a ring, or continuous thread-type protrusion, around
the neck 28 of the container 14 below the threads 16 that may
contain the notches 20.
[0022] The notches 20 in the thread 16 separate the thread into
different segments. As a result, a multi-segment thread is formed.
The external threads 16 on the neck 28 of the container 14 may be
discontinuous and positioned at an angle around the neck 28 of the
container 14, such that the end of one overlaps with the beginning
of another. Where the external threading has at least three
discontinuous external threads, and more preferably, though not
necessarily, at least four discontinuous external threads, and is
at an angle such that an uppermost end of a first external thread
overlaps at a position above a lowermost end of a second external
thread, the uppermost end of the first external thread contains the
notch, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Alternatively, the opposite
overlapping configuration may be possible. Still alternatively, the
thread may be continuous.
[0023] The notch 20 may be positioned in the uppermost thread 16,
i.e., the thread that is closest to the top or opening 24 of the
container 14. Furthermore, the notch 20 may be placed near an
endpoint of the uppermost thread of the discontinuous external
thread, thus separating the adjacent portion of the thread 16 into
two segments; a long segment and a short segment separated by the
notch 20.
[0024] The lid 12 is provided with internal threading 18, where the
internal threading may be discontinuous. The lid 12 has a top wall
30 and a skirt 32 depending therefrom, with the threading 18
positioned on the interior side of the skirt 32. The internal
threading 18 on the lid 12 is configured to engage with the
external threading 16 on the container neck 28 to provide a closure
for the container 14. The threads 18 of the lid 12 may also be
positioned at an angle such that the end of one overlaps with the
beginning of another, depending upon the configuration of the
thread 16 on the neck 28 of the container 14. For example, an
uppermost end of a first internal thread may overlap a lowermost
end of a second internal thread.
[0025] The lid 12 includes at least one lug member 22 positioned
between an uppermost portion of the thread 18 and an interior
surface of the top wall 30 of the lid 12, and preferably, though
not necessarily, at least three generally equidistantly spaced lugs
22 along an interior surface of the skirt 32 where the lid has at
least three discontinuous internal threads. The lug 22 may contact
the upper side of the thread 18, or may be spaced therefrom;
similarly, the lug 22 may contact the intersection of the top wall
30 and skirt 32, or may be spaced therefrom. One embodiment may
have the lug 22 positioned at an upper side of an uppermost thread
18, where the threads 18 overlap, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and
positioned near the beginning point of the uppermost thread 18 at
the overlapping section. Another embodiment may have the lug 22
positioned on an upper side of a thread 18 in a non-overlapping
section, such that the lug 22 is only in contact with the thread
18, being spaced a distance away from the intersection of the top
wall 30 with the skirt 32.
[0026] The lug 22 is sized to fit in the notch 20 located on the
threads 16 of the container 14, and may have various shapes and
sizes that are smaller, complimentary to, or larger than the notch
20. Typically, the lug 22 may have a leading edge and a trailing
edge, and further comprising an exposed surface that contacts the
notch 20 once the lug 22 is inserted. Opposite the exposed surface
may be a straight edge that is attached to the skirt 32 of the lid
12. The leading edge of the lug 22 is the first edge to contact the
notch 20, and the trailing edge is the last part of the lug 22 to
contact the notch 20. An example of a lug shape is generally
trapezoidal, with four straight edges having a leading edge at a
90.degree. angle and a trailing edge at a different angle, where
one of the other straight edges is attached to the skirt. Another
shape may be a lug having rounded edges and a straight edge top and
bottom. The leading and trailing edge may be similar in shape,
i.e., both may be rounded, and the exposed surface of the lug may
be a straight edge, with the side opposite the exposed surface
attached to the skirt and may also be a straight edge. Another
possible shape may be a half-circle lug where there are only two
sides, a half circle side and a straight edge that is attached to
the skirt. Still another possible shape may be a quarter circle
lug, having three sides. The leading edge may be a straight edge
with the remainder of the exposed lug surface being rounded, and
the side that is attached to the skirt of the lid may be a straight
edge. Still other shapes may be provided for the lug member 22, and
the shapes are not limited to those just described above.
[0027] The notch 20 may be shaped to receive a lug 22 positioned in
the lid 12 and may have any number of shapes. The notch 20 may be
sized slightly larger than the lug 22, or may be sized to
compliment the lug 22 size, or may be sized slightly smaller than
the lug 22. The notch 20 preferably may be sized smaller than the
lug 22, such that the lug 22 is longer than the notch 20 and has a
circumferential length larger than the circumferential length of
the notch 20, to achieve a tighter fit between the lug 22 and the
notch 20. Beginning with such a configuration can be advantageous
if there is expected to be wear on one or both of the lugs 22 and
notches 20 due to repeated use. The notch 20 preferably extends at
least substantially all the way through the thread 16, separating
it into two segments.
[0028] The audible closing feature 10 may have at least one lug 22
and one corresponding notch 20 that provide an audible sound that
indicates when the lid 12 is sufficiently closing the container.
When it is desired to close the container 14, the lid 12 may be
placed over the opening 24 and rotated such that the threads 18 on
the lid 12 engage with the threads 16 on the container neck 28, as
is typical of threaded closure systems. The lugs 22 on the lid 12
may initially pass between the threads 16 on the container 14 as
the lid is first rotated. However, the audible closing feature 10
may also have an unequal number of lugs 22 and notches 20, such
that, for example, there may be a greater number of lugs 22 than
notches 20. One example of an audible closing feature 10 with
unequal lugs 22 and notches 20 may have four lugs 22 and only two
notches 20, such that only two lugs 22 are aligned with the two
notches 20.
[0029] As the lid 12 nears its final point of rotation, the lugs 22
may begin to engage with a ramp portion of the threads 16 of the
container 14, as shown in FIG. 1A. (FIGS. 1A-1C depict
cross-sectional views of the lid 12 placed on top of the container
14 and viewed from an interior of the container 14 looking
outwards.) The ramp position may be located on the short segment of
the discontinuous external thread 16 of the container 14 and ending
at a notch 20 or it may be located along a ring around the neck 28
of the container and also ending at a notch 20. As the lugs 22
engage with the ramp portion and slide up along the ramp on the
external thread 16, as seen in FIG. 1B, the neck 28 of the
container 14 may be inwardly deformed in a uniform manner and/or
the skirt 32 of the lid 12 may be outwardly deformed in a uniform
manner as the lug 22 slides along the ramp. Tension may build up
between the lid 12 and container 14 when pressure is exerted by the
lug 22 on the thread 16 of the container 14, and may cause the
uniform deformation of the container 14 and/or the lid 12. Once a
lug 22 is aligned with its corresponding notch 20, such that it has
snapped into position within the notch 20, the neck 28 and/or the
skirt 32 of the lid 12 may be returned to its undeformed, or
relaxed state. FIG. 1C shows a lug 22 and notch 20 fully aligned
and the lid 12 in the fully closed position. As the lug 22 snaps
into place within the notch 20, an audible sound may be created,
which indicates that the lid 12 is sufficiently closing the
container 14. This is preferably at the position of maximum
rotation between the lid 12 and the container 14.
[0030] Engagement of the lugs 22 with the thread 16 can prevent
backoff of the lid 12 from the container 14 during transport and
movement of the container 14. The lugs 22 on the lid 12 can be
prevented from aligning with the notch 20 by the placement of a
tamper evident film over the lid and between the neck 28 of the
container 14 and the lid 12 prior to initial use and during
transport and/or storage. The film between the lid 12 and container
14 can interfere with the alignment of the lugs 22 and notches 20
and prevents the lugs 22 from falling into the notches 20 by
blocking access to the notch 20 and preventing further rotation of
the lid 12 towards the notch 20. Thus, tension of the lug 22 on the
thread 16 of the container 14, which is covered by the film, can
prevent backoff. Alternatively, such as for a tamper evident film
that does not extend into the threading, the film may provide
increased resistance to rotation between the lid 12 and the
container 14, which can be enhanced when the lugs 22 also contact
the film or when the lugs 22 are in the notches 20 and the film is
causing additional pressure between the threads. Additionally, the
lug 22 and notch 20 are preferably configured such that simple
rotation of the lid 12, without axial force, will back the lid 12
off the container 14 to facilitate easy opening of the container
14.
[0031] In an alternative arrangement, the lug 22 may be provided on
the neck 28 of the container 14 and the notch 20 may be provided on
the threads 18 of the lid 12, while still providing an audible
sound upon aligning the lugs 22 with the notches 20.
[0032] The number of lugs 22 on the lid 12 does not necessarily
equal the number of notches 20 in the container threads 16. It may
be possible to have a greater number of lugs 22 than notches 20, or
vice versa. For example, the lid 12 may contain four lugs 22 and
the container 14 may have only two notches 20, such that two lugs
22 on the lid 12 are left without a notch 20 to snap into.
Alternatively, there may be at least one lug 22 and at least one
corresponding notch 20 for each lug 22; still it may be preferable
to have at least three lugs 22 and a corresponding notch 20 for
each lug, i.e. at least three notches 20, and still more preferable
to have four lugs 22 and four notches 20, as shown in FIGS. 2-3,
all generally equidistantly spaced apart. Having at least three
lugs 22 and three notches 20 helps maintain a uniform deformation
of the neck 28 of the container 14 and/or the skirt 32 of the lid
12. This further facilitates the lugs 22 and notches 20 snapping
into place once the container 14 returns to its original,
undeformed shape, thus providing the audible indication.
[0033] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that an audible
reclose feature for containers with a threaded finish is provided
that allows for the engagement of a lug and notch closing system
located on the lid and the container neck and for providing an
audible sound upon full closure. However, the disclosure is not
limited to the aspects and embodiments described hereinabove, or to
any particular embodiments. Various modifications to the audible
reclose feature can result in substantially the same feature.
* * * * *