U.S. patent application number 12/835014 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-27 for container closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to DRUG PLASTICS & GLASS COMPANY, INC.. Invention is credited to Gregory Sprishen.
Application Number | 20110017741 12/835014 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43496406 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110017741 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sprishen; Gregory |
January 27, 2011 |
CONTAINER CLOSURE
Abstract
A closure for a container having a top wall, a first tubular
wall with a radial exterior surface and a radial interior surface,
and a second tubular wall with a radial exterior surface and a
radial interior surface. The first tubular wall extends generally
transversely downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top wall and
the second tubular wall extends generally transversely downwardly
from an interior surface of the top wall radially inwardly from the
first tubular wall to establish an unobstructed void between the
interior surface of the first tubular wall and the exterior surface
of the second tubular wall. The interior surface of the second
tubular wall has first screw threads configured to removably engage
second screw threads formed on the container.
Inventors: |
Sprishen; Gregory; (Newtown
Square, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANITCH SCHWARZE BELISARIO & NADEL LLP
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE, 2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
DRUG PLASTICS & GLASS COMPANY,
INC.
Boyertown
PA
|
Family ID: |
43496406 |
Appl. No.: |
12/835014 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61227286 |
Jul 21, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/288 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/045
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/288 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20060101
B65D041/04 |
Claims
1. A closure for a container comprising: a top wall with a
peripheral edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface; a
first tubular wall with a radial exterior surface and a radial
interior surface, the first tubular wall extending generally
transversely downwardly from the peripheral edge of the top wall;
and a second tubular wall with a radial exterior surface and a
radial interior surface, the second tubular wall extending
generally transversely downwardly from the interior surface of the
top wall radially inwardly from the first tubular wall to establish
an unobstructed void between the interior surface of the first
tubular wall and the exterior surface of the second tubular wall
below the interior surface of the top wall, the radial interior
surface of the second tubular wall having first screw threads
configured to removably engage second screw threads formed on the
container, wherein rotating the closure in a first direction, when
viewing the top wall, without applying a force to the exterior
surface of the top wall or to the exterior surface of the first
tubular wall, causes the first screw threads of the second tubular
wall to disengage from the second screw threads of the
container.
2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the first tubular wall is
flexible and the second tubular wall is rigid.
3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the first tubular wall is rigid
and the second tubular wall is rigid.
4. The closure of claim 1 further comprising a cylindrical
protrusion extending downwardly from the interior surface of the
top wall at a central longitudinal axis of the top wall.
5. The closure of claim 1, wherein the first tubular wall is
connected only to the top wall.
6. The closure of claim 5, wherein the first tubular wall and
second tubular wall are integrally formed with the top wall.
7. The closure of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
concentric and spaced-apart ribs extending generally transversely
downwardly from the interior surface of the top wall.
8. The closure of claim 7, wherein the second tubular wall extends
generally transversely downwardly from the interior surface of the
top wall radially outwardly from an outermost concentric rib of the
plurality of concentric ribs.
9. The closure of claim 7, wherein the degree of spacing between
each of the plurality of ribs decreases in a direction leading
toward the peripheral edge of the top wall.
10. The closure of claim 1, wherein a plurality of gripping members
protrude from the exterior surface of the first tubular wall.
11. The closure of claim 10, wherein the plurality of gripping
members are a plurality of elongated ribs.
12. A method of manufacturing a container closure having a top
wall, a first tubular wall integrally formed with the top wall and
extending generally transversely downwardly from a peripheral edge
of the top wall, and a second integrally formed tubular wall
integrally formed with the top wall and extending generally
transversely downwardly from an interior surface of the top wall
radially inwardly from the first tubular wall to establish an
unobstructed void between the first tubular wall and the second
tubular wall, the method comprising providing a single open mold,
injecting a polymeric material into the single mold, allowing the
polymeric material to cool until substantially solidified, and
removing the single mold.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/227,286, filed on Jul. 21, 2009, entitled
"Container Closure," the entire contents of which are incorporated
by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional safety closures for medicament containers have
a double wall, double shell configuration. These conventional
closures have certain dimensions that are adaptable with existing
machinery for manufacturing and packaging such closures. A
multiplicity of so-called easy-to-open closure mechanisms, with a
double wall and double shell configuration, have also been
developed and marketed in the past. Such easy-to-open closures
mechanisms have been on the market for many years and are well
accepted container closure designs. In essence, they are merely
design modifications of conventional safety closures. In other
words, these known easy-to-open closures are assembled in the same
manner as conventional double wall, double shell safety closures,
without a safety mechanism or with the safety mechanism disabled,
such that the existing machinery for manufacturing and packaging
conventional safety closures may be used.
[0003] For example, conventional safety closures include an
assembly of first and second caps which rotate freely relative to
each other, such that the safety closure cannot be removed from a
container unless the first cap is pressed down upon or squeezed in
from the sides, and brought into engagement with the second cap. In
many of the known easy-to-open closures, the safety mechanisms are
merely non-existent or disabled and the first and second caps are
permanently secured to each other, such that the first and second
caps are incapable of rotating freely relative to each other. Thus,
when the first cap is rotated by a user, the second cap is
correspondingly rotated, allowing the closure to be unscrewed from
a container without the application of any force upon the first
cap.
[0004] Such known easy-to-open closures are often bulky and
expensive to manufacture, as they require a certain degree of
assembly to disable the safety mechanism and to secure the first
and second caps to each other. In particular, securing of the first
and second caps together is often a troublesome aspect of the
assembly of these prior art closures. The first and second caps
must be secured together in a very sensitive manner to ensure that
there is a strong bond between the two caps. If such a strong bond
is not achieved, the bond can break, the first and second caps will
no longer be secured to each other, and the closure is no longer
operable. Thus, ensuring that a sufficient bond is achieved between
the first and second caps is always a manufacturing concern for the
prior art closures.
[0005] Further, a single-wall closure is not a feasible alternative
to these prior art double wall closures. The single tubular
sidewall of a single-wall closure would have to be of a significant
thickness to efficiently serve as a container closure. However,
during formation of the single-wall closure by, for example,
injection molding, the level of sink associated with formation of
the sidewall becomes problematic, as sink marks or voids can occur
in the thick molding of the sidewall.
[0006] Thus, it is desirable to provide an integral easy-to-open
double wall closure adaptable for use with a variety of containers.
Eliminating the need for the assembly steps required to secure a
first cap to a second cap and to ensure a sufficient bond between
the two pieces results in an integral double wall closure which is
readily and inexpensively manufactured.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a
closure for a container. The closure includes a top wall with a
peripheral edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface; a
first tubular wall with a radial exterior surface and a radial
interior surface; and a second tubular wall with a radial exterior
surface and a radial interior surface. The first tubular wall
extends generally transversely downwardly from the peripheral edge
of the top wall and the second tubular wall extends generally
transversely downwardly from the interior surface of the top wall
radially inwardly from the first tubular wall to establish an
unobstructed void between the interior surface of the first tubular
wall and the exterior surface of the second tubular wall below the
interior surface of the top wall. The interior surface of the
second tubular wall has first screw threads configured to removably
engage second screw threads formed on the container. Rotating the
closure in a first direction, when viewing the top wall, without
applying a force to the exterior surface of the top wall or to the
exterior surface of the first tubular wall causes the first screw
threads of the second tubular wall to disengage from the second
screw threads of the container.
[0008] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to
a method of manufacturing a container closure having a top wall, a
first tubular wall integrally formed with the top wall and
extending generally transversely downwardly from a peripheral edge
of the top wall, and a second integrally formed tubular wall
integrally formed with the top wall and extending generally
transversely downwardly from an interior surface of the top wall
radially inwardly from the first tubular wall to establish an
unobstructed void between the first tubular wall and the second
tubular wall. The method includes the steps of providing a single
open mold, injecting a polymeric material into the single mold,
allowing the polymeric material to cool until substantially
solidified, and removing the single mold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention will be better understood when
read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of
illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings an
embodiment which is presently preferred. It is understood, however,
that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and
instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container closure in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container closure
shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the container closure
shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is bottom plan view of the container closure shown in
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container closure shown in
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the container closure
shown in FIG. 5 taken along line 5A-5A in FIG. 5;
[0016] FIG. 5B is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the
container closure shown in FIG. 5A taken about area 5B in FIG.
5A;
[0017] FIG. 5C is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the
container closure shown in FIG. 5A taken about area 5C in FIG. 5A;
and
[0018] FIG. 5D is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the
container closure shown in FIG. 5A taken about area 5D in FIG.
5A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Certain terminology is used in the following description for
convenience only and is not limiting. The words "right", "left",
"lower" and "upper" designate directions in the drawings to which
reference is made. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" refer to
directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center
of the container closure and designated parts thereof. Unless
specifically set forth herein, the terms "a", "an" and "the" are
not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning
"at least one". The terminology includes the words noted above,
derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
[0020] Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals
and characters indicate like elements throughout, there are shown
in FIGS. 1-5D a presently preferred embodiment of a container
closure in accordance with the present invention. With reference
initially to FIGS. 1-4, the container closure is generally
designated 10.
[0021] With particular reference to FIGS. 1-5, the container
closure 10 includes a top wall 12 with a peripheral or radially
outer edge 12a, an exterior or upper surface 12b, and an interior
or lower surface 12c. The interior surface 12c of the top wall 12
includes a plurality of concentric ribs 13 which are spaced apart
from each other and which extend generally transversely downwardly
from the interior surface 12c of the top wall 12. Preferably, the
interior surface 12c includes at least three concentric ribs 13a,
13b, 13c. The concentric ribs 13a, 13b, 13c may be evenly spaced
apart from each other. Preferably, however, the degree of spacing
between each rib 13a, 13b, 13c decreases in a direction leading
toward the radially outer or peripheral edge 12a of the top wall
12. A cylindrical protrusion 11 extends downwardly from the
interior surface 12c of the top wall 12, toward an interior 20 of
the container closure 10, at a central longitudinal axis 10a of the
closure 10, generally, and of the top wall 12, in particular (see
FIG. 4). In the ready-to-use state, the portion of the interior
surface 12c of the top wall 12 comprising the concentric circular
ribs 13a, 13b, 13c and the cylindrical protrusion 11 is covered
with a removable disk (not shown) made of, for example, paper or
cardboard, for sealing the top of a container on which the closure
10 is used.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a skirt or first tubular wall 14
extends generally transversely downwardly from the peripheral edge
12a of the top wall 12. The first tubular wall 14 has a radial
outer or exterior surface 14a and a radial interior surface 14b.
The first tubular wall 14 is generally flexible, such that
application of a force on the exterior surface 14a of the first
tubular wall 14 will cause an unattached distal end 14c of the
first tubular wall 14 to be deflected radially inwardly toward the
interior 20 of the container closure 10. However, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the first tubular wall
14 may be rigid, as flexibility of the first tubular wall 14 is not
a necessary component for the container closure 10 to function.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the exterior surface 14a of the first
tubular wall 14 comprises a plurality of gripping members 15 for
ease of handling of the container closure 10 by a user. The
plurality of gripping members 15 protrude from the exterior surface
14a of the first tubular wall 14. Preferably, the plurality of
gripping members 15 are a plurality of elongated ribs 15 that
extend generally downwardly from proximate the peripheral edge 12a
of the top wall 12 toward the distal end 14 of the first tubular
wall 14. The plurality of gripping members 15 provide traction for
a user, such that the user is able to get a firm grip on the
container closure 10 when attempting to remove it from or install
it onto a container (not shown). However, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that the exterior surface 14a of the first
tubular wall 14 may alternatively be a continuously smooth
surface.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 3-4, a second tubular wall 16 extends
generally transversely downwardly from the interior surface 12c of
the top wall 12. The second tubular wall 16 extends downwardly from
the interior surface 12c of the top wall 12 radially inwardly from
the first tubular wall 14 and radially outwardly from the outermost
concentric rib 13c, such that the second tubular wall 16 is
situated at a position between the outermost concentric circular
rib 13c and the first tubular wall 14. The second tubular wall 16
may be flexible or rigid. Preferably, the second tubular wall 16 is
rigid. With particular reference to FIGS. 3-5, the second tubular
wall 16 has a radial outer or exterior surface 16a and a radial
interior surface 16b. The radial interior surface 16b of the second
tubular wall 16 includes first screw threads 18 which are matched
with second corresponding screw threads formed on the container
with which the container closure 10 may be used. Thus, the first
screw threads 18 of the container closure 10 are configured to
removably engage the second screw threads of the container with
which the container closure 10 is used.
[0025] A gap or unobstructed void 17 is established between the
interior surface 14b of the first tubular wall 14 and the exterior
surface 16a of the second tubular wall 16 below the interior
surface 12c of the top wall 12. The void 17 is free of any
protrusions, such as lugs or interlocks. The first tubular wall 14
and the second tubular wall 16 are formed as integral components of
the container closure 10 and, therefore, there is no need for any
mechanism to secure either component to the closure 10 or to each
other. Specifically, the first and second tubular walls 14, 16 are
integrally formed with and connected only to the top wall 12 of the
container closure 10, thereby forming a double wall container
closure 10 having a single-body construction. Thus, the void 17 is
essentially non-functional. Further, since there is no need for any
type of securing mechanism or component, the container closure 10
is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
[0026] Rotating the container closure 10 in a first direction
(e.g., a counter-clockwise direction, illustrated in FIG. 5 as the
direction of arrow G), when viewing the top wall 12, rotates the
first screw threads 18 on the interior surface 16b of the second
tubular wall 16 of container closure 10 out of threaded engagement
with the corresponding threads of the container, causing the first
screw threads 18 and the container closure 10 to become disengaged
from the second screw threads of the container. The user need not
apply any force to the exterior surface 12b of the top wall 12 or
to the exterior surface 14a of the first tubular wall 14 while
rotating the container closure 10. Conversely, rotating the
container closure 10 in a second direction (e.g., a clockwise
direction, illustrated in FIG. 5 as the direction of arrow F), when
viewing the top wall 12, with or without applying force to the
container closure 10, corresponds to tightening of the container
closure 10 onto a threaded container.
[0027] While the container closure 10 may appear similar in
appearance to a conventional double wall container closure, the
container closure 10 is actually an integrally formed double-walled
container closure. The container closure 10 is preferably
fabricated from one or more thermoplastic or other polymeric
materials using injection molding or other techniques well known to
those skilled in the art. In particular, in order to manufacture
the container closure 10, a single open mold need only be provided.
Next, a polymeric material is injected into the single open mold to
form the container closure 10. After the polymeric material has
been allowed to cool until substantially solidified, the mold may
be removed. Preferably, the container closure 10 is fabricated from
a polypropylene or a high density polyethylene material. However,
it will be understood by those skilled in the art that any
polymeric materials having properties similar to polypropylene or
high density polyethylene may be used.
[0028] From this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize that other conventional materials and fabrication
techniques could be substituted. Also based on this disclosure, a
person of ordinary skill in the art would further recognize that
the relative proportions of the components illustrated could be
varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
[0029] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the above described preferred embodiment
10 of the container closure without departing from the broad
inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this
invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed,
but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope
of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *