CONTAINER AND CLOSURE ASSEMBLY

• US 20100270306A1
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tech II, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tech II, Inc.
• Inventors: Shiffer, David A.
• Application Number:
  US12/429,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270306A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/315
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/02 Venting holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00564 indirect by means of a gasket or similar intermediate ring
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3428 Cooking unusual food, i.e. none of the above foods
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0256 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container B65D43/0239 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

A container and closure assembly includes a container defining an opening and having a lip positioned around the opening. The assembly also includes a closure configured to be attached to the container. The closure includes a top portion defining a circular periphery, and a first skirt portion extending downwardly from the circular periphery to form a cylindrical structure defining a first internal closure space. The closure also includes a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of the cylindrical structure. The second skirt portion has a first side edge and a second side edge that form a gap. A tab extends downwardly from a second part of the cylindrical structure and is positioned in the gap. A first vertex segment is attached to the second skirt portion, and a second vertex segment is attached to the tab.

Claims

1. A container and closure assembly, comprising:

a container defining an opening and having a lip positioned around said opening, said lip defining a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer surface therebetween; and

a closure configured to be attached to said container, said closure including;

a top portion defining a circular periphery,

a first skirt portion extending downwardly from said circular periphery to form a cylindrical structure defining a first internal closure space,

a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of said cylindrical structure, said second skirt portion having a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap,

a tab extending downwardly from a second part of said cylindrical structure and positioned in said gap,

a first vertex segment attached to said second skirt portion,

a second vertex segment attached to said tab, and

a plurality of spaced apart ribs each being (i) positioned at least partially in said first internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said cylindrical structure,

wherein, when said closure is secured to said container, (i) said top surface of said lip is positioned in contact with said plurality of spaced apart ribs, (ii) said bottom surface of said lip is positioned in contact with both said first vertex segment and said second vertex segment, and (iii) said outer surface of said lip is positioned in contact with said second skirt portion.

2. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of spaced apart ribs includes a first rib and a second rib,

said first rib has a first surface that defines a first plane P1,

said second rib has a second surface that defines a second plane P2, and

said tab is located completely between said first plane P1 and said second plane P2.

3. The container and closure assembly of claim 2, wherein:

a first slit is defined between said first edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

a second slit is defined between said second edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

said first slit is located between said first plane P1 and said second plane P2, and

said second slit is located between said first plane P1 and said second plane P2.

4. The container and closure assembly of claim 3, wherein said second vertex segment extends from said first slit to said second slit.

5. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said first vertex segment extends for a first distance D1,

said second vertex segment extends for a second distance D2, and

said first distance D1 is approximately equal to said second distance D2.

6. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of spaced apart ribs define a plurality of bottom rib edges that contact said top surface of said lip when said closure is secured to said container,

said plurality of bottom rib edges defines a plane P,

a first slit is defined between said first edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

a second slit is defined between said second edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

said first slit defines a first closed slit end,

said second slit defines a second closed slit end, and

both said first closed slit end and said second closed slit end lie within said plane P.

7. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced apart ribs are equally spaced apart along said cylindrical structure.

8. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced apart ribs are located completely within said first internal closure space.

9. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said second skirt portion and said tab lie within an annular space,

said annular space encircles a second internal closure space, and

both said first vertex segment and said second vertex segment are located within said second internal closure space.

10. The container and closure assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a first slit is defined between said first edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

a second slit is defined between said second edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

said tab includes a bottom tab portion that defines a first ridge extending from said first slit to said second slit, and

said second skirt portion includes a bottom skirt portion that defines a second ridge extending from said first side edge to said second side edge.

11. A closure, comprising:

a top portion defining a circular periphery;

a first skirt portion extending downwardly from said circular periphery to form a cylindrical structure defining a first internal closure space;

a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of said cylindrical structure, said second skirt portion having a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap;

a tab extending downwardly from a second part of said cylindrical structure and positioned in said gap;

a first vertex segment attached to said second skirt portion;

a second vertex segment attached to said tab; and

a plurality of spaced apart ribs each being (i) positioned at least partially in said first internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said cylindrical structure.

12. The closure of claim 11, wherein:

said plurality of spaced apart ribs includes a first rib and a second rib,

said first rib has a first surface that defines a first plane P1,

said second rib has a second surface that defines a second plane P2, and

said tab is located completely between said first plane P1 and said second plane P2.

13. The closure of claim 12, wherein:

a first slit is defined between said first edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

a second slit is defined between said second edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

said first slit is located between said first plane P1 and said second plane P2, and

said second slit is located between said first plane P1 and said second plane P2.

14. The closure of claim 13, wherein said second vertex segment extends from said first slit to said second slit.

15. The closure of claim 11, wherein:

said first vertex segment extends for a first distance D1,

said second vertex segment extends for a second distance D2, and

said first distance D1 is approximately equal to said second distance D2.

16. The closure of claim 11, wherein:

said plurality of spaced apart ribs define a plurality of bottom rib edges,

said plurality of bottom rib edges defines a plane P,

a first slit is defined between said first edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

a second slit is defined between said second edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

said first slit defines a first closed slit end,

said second slit defines a second closed slit end, and

both said first closed slit end and said second closed slit end lie within said plane P.

17. The closure of claim 11, wherein said plurality of spaced apart ribs are equally spaced apart along said cylindrical structure.

18. The closure of claim 11, wherein said plurality of spaced apart ribs are located completely within said first internal closure space.

19. The closure of claim 11, wherein:

said second skirt portion and said tab lie within an annular space,

said annular space encircles a second internal closure space, and

both said first vertex segment and said second vertex segment are located within said second internal closure space.

20. The closure of claim 11, wherein:

a first slit is defined between said first edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

a second slit is defined between said second edge of said second skirt portion and said tab,

said tab includes a bottom tab portion that defines a first ridge extending from said first slit to said second slit, and

said second skirt portion includes a bottom skirt portion that defines a second ridge extending from said first side edge to said second side edge.