U.S. patent number 3,677,431 [Application Number 05/025,787] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-18 for container closure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Continental Can Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to James E. Westfall.
United States Patent |
3,677,431 |
Westfall |
July 18, 1972 |
CONTAINER CLOSURE
Abstract
A closure and finish ring assembly for a container in which both
the closure proper and the finish ring which is received over the
container and at the same time in turn receives the closure, may be
formed as a unit and installed on the container by a press-on
action without intentional rotation. After the ring and closure are
in place on the container, the closure is removed by rotation
thereof after releasing a lock provided to provide the container
with a so-called tamper proof feature. In one form, the closure is
cammed axially upwardly at the same time the closure skirt is
deflected slightly outwardly for release from the finish ring. In
another embodiment, complete or partial threads are formed on the
ring associated with the container for separating the closure from
the ring as the closure is moved axially. The closure and ring may
be formed as a single unit by double injection molding, with the
interface between the ring and closure forming, in effect, part of
the mold for formation of the associated part. Molding materials
and processing steps are selected so that the ring and closure do
not bond to each other during formation.
Inventors: |
Westfall; James E. (Western
Springs, IL) |
Assignee: |
Continental Can Company, Inc.
(New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21828052 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/025,787 |
Filed: |
April 6, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/318; 215/346;
215/335 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
41/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
41/08 (20060101); B65D 41/04 (20060101); B65d
041/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;215/40,9,7,43,44 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Claims
I claim:
1. A closure system for a container comprising, in combination, a
ring for reception over an end portion of an associated container,
portions of the surface of said ring forming a seal finish for
receiving an axially inwardly directed closure in a sealing
relation, a closure associated with said finish ring and having
thereon a closure skirt with portions thereof engaged with said
finish in complementary relation thereto, said ring being adapted
to be received over a portion of an associated container without
intentional rotation thereof and means associated with said closure
system for providing removal of said closure from said ring upon
relative rotation between said closure and said ring.
2. A closure system as defined in claim 1 in which said portions of
said skirt engaging said ring comprise threads on the inner surface
thereof for engaging corresponding threads on said ring.
3. A closure system as defined in claim 1 in which means are
provided on said ring for engaging at least a portion of said
associated container for preventing rotation of said ring relative
to said container.
4. A closure system as defined in claim 1 in which said portions of
said skirt engaging said portion of said ring includes a groove
formed in one of said ring and said closure, and a complementary
tongue formed in the other of said ring and closure.
5. A closure system as defined in claim 1 in which means are
provided for axial removal of said closure upon rotation thereof
relative to said ring, in said means including a plurality of ramps
on said ring, said ramps having generally axial facing surfaces for
engaging oppositely directed surfaces on said ring.
6. A closure system as defined in claim 1 in which means are
provided for axial removal of said closure upon relation thereof
relative to said ring, said means including threads on said ring,
said threads having portions thereof of increased radial extent
relative to other portions thereof, whereby a closure operatively
associated therewith will have the skirt portion thereof snugly
engaged by said threads on said ring upon locking rotation of said
closure.
7. A closure system as defined in claim 1 in which a portion of
said closure is adapted to engage a portion of said ring to form
locking means for preventing relative movement of said ring and
closure with respect to each other while said locking means remain
engaged.
8. A closure system as defined in claim 3 in which said means for
preventing rotation of said ring include an adhesive on an inner
surface of said ring for attachment of said ring to said associated
container.
9. A closure system as defined in claim 3 in which said means for
preventing rotation of said ring include teeth on an inner surface
of said ring for engaging a part of said associated container.
10. A closure system as defined in claim 1 in which said ring and
said closure are formed of a synthetic plastic material.
11. A composite closure assembly for a container comprising, in
combination, a closure receiving element adapted to be disposed
over a portion of the container with which said assembly is
associated in use and a closure element adapted to be removably
received from said closure receiving element, said closure having
an axially facing surface for engaging a seal finish portion of
said closure receiving element, said closure receiving element
including means for engaging a portion of said container to prevent
removal thereof from said container when said closure receiving
element is in position of use, means on said closure receiving
element for providing a top seal finish for reception thereover of
said closure element, means on said closure receiving element for
engaging said cover element and retaining it in place, means for
releasing said closure element from said closure receiving element
upon rotation of said cover, means for preventing unintentional
rotation of said closure receiving element relative to said
associated container, said closure element including complementary
means for engaging said engaging means on said receiving element,
whereby rotational force applied to said cover will release said
cover from said cover receiving element, leaving said cover
receiving element in place on said associated container.
12. A closure system for a container comprising, in combination, a
ring for reception over an end portion of an associated container,
portions of the surface of said ring forming a finish for receiving
a closure in a sealing relation, a closure associated with said
finish ring and having thereon a closure skirt with portions
thereof engaged with said finish in complementary relation thereto,
said ring being adapted to be received over a portion of an
associated container without intentional rotation thereof and means
associated with said closure system for providing removal of said
closure from said ring upon relative rotation between said closure
and said ring, said portions of said skirt engaging said portion of
said ring including a groove formed in one of said ring and said
closure, and a complementary tongue formed in the other of said
ring and closure.
13. A closure system for a container comprising, in combination, a
ring for reception over an end portion of an associated container,
portions of the surface of said ring forming a finish for receiving
a closure in a sealing relation, a closure associated with said
finish ring and having thereon a closure skirt with portions
thereof engaged with said finish in complementary relation thereto,
said ring being adapted to be received over a portion of an
associated container without intentional rotation thereof and means
associated with said closure system for providing removal of said
closure from said ring upon relative rotation between said closure
and said ring, which further include means for axial removal of
said closure upon rotation thereof relative to said ring, said
means including a plurality of ramps on said ring, said ramps
having generally axially facing surfaces for engaging oppositely
directed surfaces on said ring.
14. A closure system for a container comprising, in combination, a
ring for reception over an end portion of an associated container,
portions of the surface of said ring forming a finish for receiving
a closure in a sealing relation, a closure associated with said
finish ring and having thereon a closure skirt with portions
thereof engaged with said finish in complementary relation thereto,
said ring being adapted to be received over a portion of an
associated container without intentional rotation thereof and means
associated with said closure system for providing removal of said
closure from said ring upon relative rotation between said closure
and said ring, which further includes means for axial removal of
said closure upon rotation thereof relative to said ring, said
means including threads on said ring, said threads having portions
thereof of increased radial extent relative to other portions
thereof, whereby a closure operatively associated therewith will
have the skirt portion thereof snugly engaged by said threads on
said ring upon locking rotation of said closure.
15. A closure system for a container comprising, in combination, a
ring for reception over an end portion of an associated container,
portions of the surface of said ring forming a finish for receiving
a closure in a sealing relation, a closure associated with said
finish ring and having thereon a closure skirt with portions
thereof engaged with said finish in complementary relation thereto,
said ring being adapted to be received over a portion of an
associated container without intentional rotation thereof and means
associated with said closure system for providing removal of said
closure from said ring upon relative rotation between said closure
and said ring, said system further including an adhesive on an
inner surface of said ring for attachment of said ring to said
associated container to prevent rotation of said ring.
16. A closure system for a container comprising, in combination, a
ring for reception over an end portion of an associated container,
portions of the surface of said ring forming a finish for receiving
a closure in a sealing relation, a closure associated with said
finish ring and having thereon a closure skirt with portions
thereof engaged with said finish in complementary relation thereto,
said ring being adapted to be received over a portion of an
associated container without intentional rotation thereof and means
associated with said closure system for providing removal of said
closure from said ring upon relative rotation between said closure
and said ring, said system further including teeth on an inner
surface of said ring for engaging a part of said associated
container to prevent rotation of said ring.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to closure, systems or assemblies for
jars, bottles, cans and the like, and more particularly, to
closures of the so-called "press-on, twist-off" type wherein the
closure is placed on or over an axial end of an associated
container such as a jar or can without intentional rotation, and is
locked in place with such container, from which it may be removed
without damage only by intentional rotation of the closure.
Closure systems of this type have proved very successful in the
container industry, since they possess a number of inhereint
advantages. For example, in the case of baby food products or the
like, which are sold commonly in small, single serving containers,
the cost of the closure system must be very low in order for the
entire product to be of reasonable cost. In such cases, it is
desired to provide a tight seal, easy removability, and ease of
manufacture and assembly. It has been found that a press-on,
twist-off cap is very advantageous in these respects because in
sealing the caps to the jars it is not necessary to index the jars
to a particular position in relation to the closure, it is not
necessary to provide means to tighten the cap to a predetermined
torque, and yet the degree of force or torque necessary to effect
removal of the cap can be carefully regulated in a simple but
economical manner. Accordingly, it is known that there are a number
of advantages in the press-on, twist-off system.
Another type of closure system which has been considered desirable
from the standpoint of convenience in manufacture and economy is
the closure system wherein the container finish, that is, the part
of the container which engages the cap or like closure upon
sealing, is a separately formed or removable part of the container
rather than being an integrally formed part thereof. Thus,
constructions have been proposed wherein the so-called top and/or
side finish portions of a container are formed as part of a
separate ring rather than as integral portions of the jar or other
container, and wherein, in some cases, the gasket or other sealing
part of the closure contacts portions of the ring rather than
portions of the container proper.
In such constructions, the cap or closure itself has customarily
been a relatively conventional cap, such as a metal cap having a
top panel and a skirt portion and including a gasket of one sort or
another on an inner surface thereof. In such constructions, the cap
has been more or less conventional with the finish ring being a
separately formed element which is otherwise similar to the top
and/or side finish portions of the container itself.
The present invention relates to closure systems having certain of
the advantages of these various prior art constructions, but
differing therefrom by reason of having different features of
construction and possessing certain other and further advantages
and features not found in known prior art constructions.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a composite closure and finish ring system in which the
assembly is placed on an associated container, and in which the
closure only is removed by rotation, with the ring remaining on the
container.
Another object is to provide a closure system in which the closure
and the finish ring may be formed by a multi-step operation wherein
one part of the composite assembly is formed, by injection molding
for example, in one step of the operation, and the remainder of the
forming operation includes the use of portions of the previously
formed components as a mold for the remaining parts of the
assembly.
Another object is to provide a composite finish ring and closure
which may be formed as a unit, but in which the parts thereof are
readily separable for the purpose of removing the closure from a
container having the ring associated therewith.
Another object is the provision of a composite ring and closure
which may be formed separately and in which the closure is, in use,
locked to the ring by means which provide an increased radial
clearance between the ring and closure upon closure rotation for
removal thereof, to provide reduced friction when the closure is
removed.
Another object is the provision of a double injection molded,
composite finish ring and closure assembly which may be pressed
into a container as a unit without intentional rotation, and which
may then be separated into two elements by removal of the closure
from the ring.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a finish ring
and closure assembly in which a tamper proof seal or lock may be
provided to prevent undesired rotation of the closure or to
indicate that such removal has previously been accomplished or
attempted.
A still further object is the provision of a method of making a
composite closure and finish ring assembly for press-on association
with a jar or other container and the removal therefrom by rotation
of the closure serving to separate the closure from the ring.
A still further object is to provide a ring and closure assembly
for use with the associated container in which said assembly may
readily be manufactured by so-called double injection molding.
These objects, and other inherent objects and advantages of the
invention, are accomplished by providing a composite finish ring
and closure assembly in which the ring is assembled into a position
of use in association with a container without intentional rotation
of said assembly, and in which the closure position of the assembly
may be subsequently removed from the assembly by rotating it in
relation to the ring, which is held fixed in relation to said
container. The objects of the invention are also accomplished by
the provision of a method for making the composite finish ring and
closure of the invention.
The exact manner in which these objects and advantages are
accomplished will become more clearly apparent when reference is
made to the accompanying detailed description of the preferred
embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference numbers indicate corresponding parts
throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container having a composite ring
and closure assembly of the invention associated therewith;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view, with portions broken away,
of the container and closure assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container and closure of FIGS. 1
and 2;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the finish ring used with the form of
closure shown in Figs;
FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view
taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3 and showing a portion of the
composite closure and finish ring of the invention in position of
use in an associated container;
FIG. 6 is an exploded vertical sectional view showing portions of
the container, ring, and closure with the closure spaced axially
apart from the ring;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the tamper proof
feature of one form of the closure and ring assembly of the
invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another form of closure and ring
assembly of the invention, associated with a container;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view, with portions
broken away, of a modified form of closure and ring shown in FIG.
8;
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the container, closure and ring of
the invention;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the finish ring element of the form
of invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;
FIG. 12 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view
taken along lines 12--12 of FIG. 10 and showing a portion of the
composite ring and closure of FIG. 9 in position of use atop an
associated container;
FIG. 13 is an exploded sectional view of the assembly of FIG.
12;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a tamper proof
locking feature used with the ring and closure assembly of FIGS.
9-13.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Although it will be understood that the present invention is useful
in a number of forms, and that the exact form of a container with
which the ring and closure assembly is associated in use do not
form an essential part of the invention, and that the particular
forms of ring and closure to be described are merely illustrative
of the features of the invention, the invention will be described
with reference to a finish ring and closure assembly which is
formed of a plastic or like material, and in which is used in
association with a glass container or the like. When terms such as
"up", "down", or other terms indicating directional orientation are
used, will be understood that such terms are intended to apply to
the position of the ring and closure when associated with a
container which is in a normal upright position of use with the
opening thereof at the top. Accordingly, the term "axial movement"
as used herein refers to motion in a direction parallel to the axis
of the cylinder or like figure formed by the jar, can, or other
container with which the closure system of the invention is
associated in use.
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, and particularly
FIGS. 1-7, one form of the invention is shown to be embodied in a
closure system 20 for a container such as a glass jar 22 or the
like. The closure assembly 20 includes a closure portion 24 and a
finish ring portion 26 received above an annular rib 28 extending
around the upper portion 30 of the container 22. The closure 24
includes a top panel portion 32, a stacking ring 34 extending
circumferentially therearound and a depending skirt portion 36
terminating in alternately disposed generally axially facing
inclined ramps 38 and flat closure-positioning surfaces 40 adapted
to engage complementary, generally oppositely axially facing ramp
surfaces 42 and closure positioning surfaces 44. A groove 46 is
formed in one portion of the closure skirt 36 and includes a
depending locking tab 48 which is shown to be associated with a
pair of side walls 50 defining a locking groove 74 (FIG. 7) located
in the lower, outer surface portion 52 of the ring 26.
As is clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, for example, the inner
surface 54 of the skirt 36 includes a tongue 56 adapted to extend
into a complementary groove 58 formed in an upper side wall portion
60 of the ring 26. A generally rounded top finish portion 62 of the
ring 26 lies above the groove 58 and is integrally formed with the
body of the finish ring 26.
Referring now in more detail to the positioning of the ring 26 on
the container 22, FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 show that a bottom surface 64 of
the ring 26 is disposed in overlying relation to the rib 28, and
that a generally annular groove 66 extends around the upper portion
30 of the container 22 a portion of the rib 28 and a portion of an
upper rib 68 on the container 22. This groove 66 includes a number
of notches or serrations 70 (FIG. 2) thereon for purposes which
will appear more fully herein.
Referring now in particular to FIG. 5, it can be seen that a bead
or band 72 of an adhesive material may, if desired, be provided
between ribs 68, 28 in groove 66. Such material may be disposed
elsewhere, if desired, or may be eliminated if the pressure or
vacuum seal provided thereby is not necessary, or is provided by
other means such as a gasket located on the inner surface of the
ring 26a.
Referring now in particular to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be noted
that, by reason of the shapes of the closure camming and supporting
surfaces 38, 40, and the complementary shapes of the surfaces 42,
44 on the ring 26, unlike conventional closures in which threads or
the like are employed to retain a closure in place, a certain
amount of plastic or elastic deformation will take place in the
skirt 36, or in the tongue and groove portions 56, 58 of the
closure skirt 36 and the ring 26, in order for the closure to be
removed axially from the ring 26, with which it is associated.
Accordingly, the tongue and groove 56, 58 are made from a
deformable material and are sized and shaped so as to be
sufficiently flexible in relation to the force able to be generated
by rotating the closure 24 relative to the ring 26 that the tongue
56 will ride out of the groove 58 upon such rotation and release
the closure for free axial removal from the ring 26. Thus, the
configuration of the tongue and groove 56, 58 serves to determine,
at least in part, the sealing characteristics of the closure, as
well as the torque required to effect removal of the closure 24
from the ring 26. This relation is shown in FIG. 6, where the
closure 24 is shown to be removed, and it will be seen in this view
that the closure 24 has resumed its prior shape by reason of its
own innate resiliency.
Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the locking portion
48 attached by a frangible connection such as a thin web to the
slot 46 formed by the walls 50 in the ring 26. Accordingly, it will
be seen that with the locking tab 48 lying in the slot 74, rotation
of the closure 24 will be resisted, and if accomplished, will
result in breakage or noticeable bending of this tab 48, thereby
indicating to a prospective purchaser that the closure has been
opened or that the closure system has been tampered with.
However, the tab 48, joined by the thin web, is able to be ruptured
or removed without application thereto of excessive force.
FIG. 7, which is on an enlarged scale, also shows that, in the
preferred form of the invention, a plurality of anti-slip areas
such as grooved or serrated gripping portions 76 are formed on the
skirt 32 of the closure 24. This affords added convenience where
the material from which the assembly is formed is naturally
lubricous, for example, or is of otherwise smooth contour.
Referring now to the use of the closure assembly 20 and the method
of assembling it with an associated container 22, it is normally
intended that the finish ring 26 be formed in one stage of a two
stage forming operation such as double injection molding, whereby
the closure 24 is formed in another step, using the just-formed
ring 26 as a part of the mold for the being-formed closure 24, so
that the resulting product is a composite assembly.
Assuming that the container is a glass jar of the type shown in
FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, for example, and that a pair of upper and lower
ribs 68, 28 are formed thereon and define a ring-receiving groove
66 therebetween, the entire assembly consisting of the closure 24
and the ring 26 is forced axially downwardly over the upper rib 68
without intentional rotation of the ring 26, over the rib 68. This
action is facilitated by the provision of the beveled annular inner
surface 78 of the ring 26. Once this ring 26 is in the position
shown in FIG. 6 and 6, for example, it is axially locked in place
by reason of the increased width of the rib 28 which prevents
downward axial movement, and by reason of the shoulder 80 which
partially defines the groove 82 for receiving the rib 68 and which
prevents further downward movement. A bead 72 of adhesive material
can be used to lock the ring 26 in place and, if of continuous
extent around the groove 66, will also serve to seal the contents
of the container from leakage in the region of the groove 66.
Therefore, in such an embodiment, the adhesive may supplement the
action of the serration 70 in locking the ring against
rotation.
FIG. 2 clearly shows that serrations 70 may be provided in the
groove 66 also for the purpose of preventing rotation of the ring,
and these serrations may be present for co-operation with such an
adhesive material, if desired, or may serve as a substitute
therefor. Furthermore, the serrations 70 may cooperate with
counterparts thereof (not shown) on the inner surface of the ring
26 in a known manner, or the gripping action provided thereby may
be accomplished only by reason of the serrations 70 digging into
the surface 84. Once the ring 26 is thus held in the position
shown, it cannot rotate relative to the container 22 unless
relatively very great torque is applied thereto. Since the closure
24 is not bonded to the ring 26, although it may be formed using a
part of the ring as the mold, rotational force applied to the
closure 24 causes the closure 24 to ride axially upwardly,
deforming the tongue 66 as already pointed out, and freeing the
outer surface 60 of the ring 26 from contact with the inner surface
54 of the closure 24 for removal thereof from the container 22.
The container 22 may be resealed by the reverse process, namely,
forcing the cover 24 axially over the ring 26, rotating it somewhat
if necessary to bring about alignment of surfaces 38, 40 with
surfaces 42, 44, respectively.
Referring now to the manufacture of the composite closure assembly
20, it will be assumed that the ring portion 26 is desired to be
manufactured first. This is accomplished by forming, such as by
injection molding, for example, a ring 26 having all the contours
shown including the top and side finish portions, serrations,
threads, etc. Thereupon, the die in which the ring 26 is formed may
be rotated in a manner well known in the double injection molding
art so as to present a second mold cavity having the exterior
contour of the cap 24, and an inner surface mold contour which will
be defined not only by the flat inner surface 86 of the top panel
portion 32, but also by an inner contour having the shape of the
grooved, cammed, and/or threaded portion of the outer surfaces of
the ring 26, so that the cap contours are of complementary shape
relative to the ring contours.
At the same time, the locking tab 48 or like element is also
integrally formed with the closure 24 so as to fit snugly but
removably into the groove 74. Depending on the nature of the
tamperproof feature desired, the tab 48 and groove 74 may be made
by different means. In other words, a weak or thin cross section
tear line may be formed by joining the closure 24 to the tab 48,
with the tab 48 being strongly held in groove 74. On the other
hand, the tab 48 may be formed so as to be freely movable out of
the slot 24, with such movement being sufficient to tear off the
tab 48, or effect permanent noticeable deformation thereof so that
the fact of previous opening or tampering therewith will be readily
noticeable.
Accordingly, the closure may be formed of a material which is
non-adherent in respect to the material comprising the ring 26, or
it may be formed of a material which, although similar or even the
same, will not adhere or bond to the previously formed ring 26 by
reason of molding conditions or the like. Furthermore, similar
materials which might otherwise form a bond may be used, with a
release agent being applied to the pertinent surfaces of the ring
26 if so indicated.
The method of forming parts in this manner, that is, by double
injection molding, is well known per se and therefore, although it
does not form a part of the invention which is novel per se, this
method is particularly useful and highly advantageous when used in
this manner for this purpose. Accordingly, it is not believed to be
known to use the method to form composite ring and closure
assemblies, particularly those wherein the mating parts formed by
the double molding technique cooperate with each other not only for
the purpose of keeping the ring and closure assembly 20 together as
a unit for shipping, handling, and assembly, but also for
determining the characterof the seal formed and the torque
characteristics required for removing the closure 24 from the ring
26 subsequent to assembly with an associated container.
Referring now in particular to FIGS. 8-14, another embodiment of
the invention is shown which is similar in some respects to the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, but which differs therefrom in a
number of other respects, some of which will be referred to herein.
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, it will
be seen that the container 22a includes associated therewith a
composite finish ring and closure assembly 20a, with this assembly
20a in turn comprising a closure 24a and a closure-receiving finish
ring 26a received in groove 66a held in place over the upper
portion 30a of the container 22a by the upper rib 68a and the
larger diameter, lower rib 28a, both ribs 68a, 28a extending
circumferentially around the upper portion 30a of the container
22a. Serrations 70a or the like are shown to be provided to prevent
rotation of the ring 26a in respect to the container 22a, while the
ribs 68a, 28a prevent axial movement of the ring 26a in either
direction. In addition to the locking tab 48a which is receiveable
in the slot 74a defined by side walls 50a, and the knurled or
serrated outer gripping surfaces 76a, which have counterparts in
the earlier described embodiment, the closure 24a also includes a
stacking ring 34a surmounting a top panel 32a. A beveled surface
78a lies adjacent the lower surface 64a of the ring 26a for
facilitating assembly thereof with the container 22a. The ring 26a
may be also secured in place against rotation by a layer or bead
72a of an adhesive material disposed between the groove 66a and the
inner surface 84a of the ring 26a. A shoulder 80a partially defines
a top groove 82a for receiving the top ring locking rib 68a.
Means on the ring 26a for engaging the closure 24a are present in
the form of radially outwardly extending threads 100 having one end
portion 102 thereof of reduced radial extent with respect to the
opposite end portion 104, that is, the outer surface 106 of the
thread is of gradually decreasing diameter in the counterclockwise
direction of its progression around the ring, when viewed from the
top. The edges 104 of the threads 100 will be seen to merge into
the lower portion of the ring 26a.
These threads 100 are formed in this manner so that, upon rotation
of the cap 24a with respect to the ring 26a, the skirt portion 36a
of the closure 24a which, in the closed position of the cap 24a,
snugly engages the threads 100, upon rotation of the closure 24a,
gradually draws away from the threads 100 so that a clearance is
formed between the threads 100 and the skirt 36a. As a result,
frictional contact between these parts is gradually reduced, and
radial clearance is provided to facilitate axial removal of the
closure. When the container 22a is reclosed, an opposite action
takes place, namely, the closure 24a is located in place over the
ring 25a and is progressively more firmly fastened in place upon
rotation thereof in the clockwise direction.
FIGS. 12 and 13 show that removal of the closure 24a from the ring
26a is accomplished in the same manner as it is accomplished in
regard to the cap and ring 24, 26 of FIGS. 5 and 6, for
example.
The operation of the locking tab 48a is the same as that of its
counterpart, and in other principal respects, the form of composite
closure assembly shown in FIGS. 8-14 is similar to the form thereof
shown on FIGS. 1-7.
Likewise, the manner of molding or otherwise forming of the
assemblies may be the same. In this connection it will be
understood that either the ring 26a or the closure 24a may be first
formed with the other portion thereof being subsequently formed. On
the other hand, there is no need that these assemblies be formed by
the double injection molding technique referred to herein. In the
event that the rings 26, 26a and closures 24, 24a are desired to be
separately formed, it may also be desirable to form the inner
surface 54a of the closure 24a with a slight angle of incidence or
departure form the outside surface 60a of the ring 26a,
dimensioning these parts for minimum interference, except adjacent
the bottom portion of the skirt 36a and in the vicinity of the
threads 100 or the ramp surfaces 38, 42.
The above description has been made with reference to an embodiment
of the invention wherein the container 22, 22a is a glass jar or
bottle. It will be understood, however, that the invention is also
equally applicable to other forms of containers to be used in
association with the ring and closure systems of the invention. For
example, such containers include plastic jars or bottles, metal
cans, and the like.
It is anticipated that closures and rings will be formed from
plastic materials, such as thermoplastic materials which may be
easily injection molded. However, other materials, including
thermosetting plastics and other materials may be equally suitable
for practice of the invention.
Ring and closure systems made according to the invention are useful
with any number of products, or in fact any type of product
compatible with the material comprising the ring, closure, and
adhesive, if any. A particular advantage of the invention resides
in the fact that the threads need not be formed on the container,
and therefore no orientation thereof in the packaging or filling
machine or the like is necessary since the ring is of the
"press-on" type, and the closure is a "turn-off" type closure.
However, the primary seal may be a plastic-to-plastic seal and the
thread, ramp or other configuration providing means for causing
axial movement of the cap upon rotation may be varied without
making changes in the plastic jar or bottle. Thus, a standard jar
may be made having a groove or like means for receiving a ring, and
any number of different forms of rings and closures will be useful
therewith, provided only that the portion thereof received by the
container is standard. In other words, a single style, size, and
shape of jar would be equally useful with the form of the invention
shown in FIGS. 1-7, the forms shown in FIGS. 8-14 and other forms
not specifically illustrated.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, it will be
understood that, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
angle of inclination of the ramps 38 should not be excessive.
Although the exact angle used does not form a critical part of the
invention, at present, angles of the order shown in these drawings,
or lesser angles, are preferred. In this connection, it will also
be appreciated that the overall height of the ramps 38 should equal
or exceed the axial spacing between groove 58 and the top finish
portion 62 of the ring 26, so that tongue 56 will be free from
engagement with the ring 26 when the closure 24 is rotated to its
full extent for removal.
It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel
ring and closure assembly and method for containers and the like
having a number of advantages and characteristics, including those
pointed out herein and others which are inherent in the
invention.
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