Spirally Threaded Molded Bottle Finish Having Removable and NonRemovable Closures and Closures Therefor

• US 20200130883A1
• Filed: 10/29/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GK Packaging, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GK Packaging, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuzma, Gene J., Herstol, Tristan O., Niswonger, Theodore R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,611,511 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0246 Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2255/20 with coacting elements, e.g. ratchet and pawl, formed integrally in the container and closure or dispensing device, e.g. spout, for permanently preventing removal of the latter
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/04 Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/08 having articulated or hinged closures B65D55/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A bottle finish and closure system is described. In some embodiments, ratchets on a finish engage ratchets on a closure, while allowing the free passage of the threads of the closure on those of the finish in one direction only, allowing a non-removable finish and closure system. In another series of embodiments, the same ratcheted finish may be employed with a non-ratcheted, i.e., conventional closure, due to the novel design of the finish ratchets, thereby producing a freely removable closure and finish system.

Claims

1. A bottle finish and closure system (10) comprising:

a. a bottle finish (100) having a finish opening (O), a finish top (102), a finish bottom (104), a finish external surface (106), a finish T dimension (FT), and a finish E dimension (FE), complementary to a bottle closure (300), further comprising a finish thread (110) having at least one finish thread root (111), at least one first finish thread flank (112) having a first finish thread flank base (113), at least one second finish thread flank (114) having a second finish thread flank base (115), and at least one finish thread height (116), applied to at least an arc of a circumference of the finish external surface (106),

the finish thread (110) has an imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) extending from the finish top (102) on the finish external surface (106), extending through a finish thread start (117), extending along the finish thread root (111) along the first finish thread flank base (113), through a finish thread termination (118), and continuously extending across any finish thread breaks (119) across the finish external surface (106) to the finish bottom (104);

and an imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130) extending from the finish top (102) on the finish external surface (106), extending through the finish thread start (117), extending along the finish thread root (111) along the second finish thread flank base (115) and through the finish thread termination (118), continuously extending across any finish thread breaks (119) across the finish external surface (106) to the finish bottom (104); and

a plurality of finish ratchets (200) having at least one finish ratchet engaging portion (210), at least one finish ratchet sloped portion (220), at least one finish ratchet depth (230), and at least one finish ratchet height (240), above the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) arising in proximity to the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) and wherein the at least one finish ratchet height (240) extends toward the finish opening (O) less than a distance between the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) and the imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130), thus forming a thread passage gap (140) between the plurality of finish ratchets (200) and any portion of the imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130) falling above the finish ratchets (200),

b. a closure (300) having a closure opening (O), a closure top (302), a closure bottom (304), a closure internal surface (306), a closure T dimension (CT), and a closure E dimension (CE), complementary to a finish (100), further comprising,

a closure thread (310) having at least one closure root (311), at least one first closure thread flank (312) having a first closure thread flank base (313), at least one second closure thread flank (314) having a second closure thread flank base (315), and at least one closure thread height (316), applied to at least an arc of a circumference of the closure internal surface (306),

and the closure thread (310) has an imaginary superior closure thread border line (320) extending from the closure top (302) on the closure internal surface (306) extending through a closure thread start (317), extending along the closure thread root (311) through a closure thread termination (318) and continuously extending across any closure thread breaks (319) across the closure internal surface (306) to the closure bottom (304); and

an imaginary inferior closure thread border line (330) extending from the closure top (302) on the closure internal surface (306), extending through the closure thread start (317), extending along the closure thread root (311) along the second closure thread flank base (315), through the closure thread termination (318) and continuously extending across any closure thread breaks (319) across the closure internal surface (306) to the closure bottom (304); and

a plurality of closure ratchets (400) having at least one closure ratchet engaging portion (410), at least one closure ratchet sloped portion (420), at least one closure ratchet depth (430) and at least one closure ratchet height (440) above the imaginary superior closure thread border line (320) and arising in proximity to the imaginary superior closure thread border line (320) and extending upwards toward the imaginary inferior closure thread border line (330);

wherein

c. the thread passage gap (140) is sized to allow the free passage of at least one closure thread height (316), and

d. the application of the closure (300) to the finish (100) engages at least one closure ratchet (400) with at least one finish ratchet (200), thereby engaging the closure (300) and the finish (100) to prevent removal of the closure (300) from the finish (100).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the finish thread (110) and the closure thread (310) are both selected from the group of threads consisting of single continuous thread and a plurality of discontinuous threads.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one finish ratchet (200) is a plurality of finish ratchets (200).

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one closure ratchet (400) is a plurality of closure ratchets (400).

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the finish thread (110) makes at least one full turn around the finish (100).

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the finish thread (110) makes at least two full turns around the finish (100).

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the finish ratchets (200) are circumferentially present around the finish (100).

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the finish thread start (117) is selected from the group of finish thread starts (17) consisting of a blunt finish thread start (117), an undercut finish thread start (117) and an overcut finish thread start (117).

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein a closure thread stop (340) is formed on the closure inner surface (306) and the stop (340) limits a tightening movement of the finish thread (110) on the closure (300).

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein a first finish ratchet engaging portion (210) lies between ten and thirty-five radial degrees of the finish thread start (117).

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein a first finish ratchet engaging portion (210) lies within ninety radial degrees of the finish thread start (117).

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the closure is fabricated with a shell design selected from the group of shell designs consisting of a single shell design and a double shell design.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein all finish ratchets (200) are located between two adjoining turns of the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120).

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the finish ratchets (200) are all located between a portion of the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) and a portion of an immediately adjacent imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130).

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one finish ratchet (200) arises from and is attached to the first finish thread flank (112).

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one finish ratchet (200) is spaced apart from the first finish thread flank (112).

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one finish ratchet height (240) is at least two finish ratchet heights (240), a first finish ratchet height (240) having a first finish ratchet depth (230) causing it to be engageable with at least one closure ratchet (400), and a second finish ratchet height (240) having a second finish ratchet depth (230) allowing a free passage of all closure ratchets (400).

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the second finish ratchet height (240) is an area flush with the finish external surface (106).

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein a first finish ratchet engaging portion (210) lies within 270 radial degrees of the finish thread start (117).

19. A bottle finish and closure system (10) comprising:

a. a bottle finish (100) having a finish opening (O), a finish top (102), a finish bottom (104), a finish external surface (106), a finish T dimension (FT), and a finish E dimension (FE), complementary to a bottle closure (300), further comprising a finish thread (110) having at least one finish thread root (111), at least one first finish thread flank (112) having a first finish thread flank base (113), at least one second finish thread flank (114) having a second finish thread flank base (115), and at least one finish thread height (116), applied to at least an arc of a circumference of the finish external surface (106),

the finish thread (110) has an imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) extending from the finish top (102) on the finish external surface (106), extending through a finish thread start (117), extending along the finish thread root (111) along the first finish thread flank base (113), through a finish thread termination (118), and continuously extending across any finish thread breaks (119) across the finish external surface (106) to the finish bottom (104);

and an imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130) extending from the finish top (102) on the finish external surface (106), extending through the finish thread start (117), extending along the finish thread root (111) along the second finish thread flank base (115) and through the finish thread termination (118), continuously extending across any finish thread breaks (119) across the finish external surface (106) to the finish bottom (104); and

a plurality of finish ratchets (200) having at least one finish ratchet engaging portion (210), at least one finish ratchet sloped portion (220), at least one finish ratchet depth (230), and at least one finish ratchet height (240), above the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) arising in proximity to the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) and wherein the at least one finish ratchet height (240) extends toward the finish opening (O) less than a distance between the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) and the imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130), thus forming a thread passage gap (140) between the plurality of finish ratchets (200) and any portion of the imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130) falling above the finish ratchets (200),

b. a closure (300) having a closure opening (O), a closure top (302), a closure bottom (304), a closure internal surface (306), a closure T dimension (CT), and a closure E dimension (CE), complementary to a finish (100), further comprising,

a closure thread (310) having at least one closure root (311), at least one first closure thread flank (312) having a first closure thread flank base (313), at least one second closure thread flank (314) having a second closure thread flank base (315), and at least one closure thread height (316), applied to at least an arc of a circumference of the closure internal surface (306),

and the closure thread (310) has an imaginary superior closure thread border line (320) extending from the closure top (302) on the closure internal surface (306) extending through a closure thread start (317), extending along the closure thread root (311) through a closure thread termination (318) and continuously extending across any closure thread breaks (319) across the closure internal surface (306) to the closure bottom (304); and

an imaginary inferior closure thread border line (330) extending from the closure top (302) on the closure internal surface (306), extending through the closure thread start (317), extending along the closure thread root (311) along the second closure thread flank base (315), through the closure thread termination (318) and continuously extending across any closure thread breaks (319) across the closure internal surface (306) to the closure bottom (304); and

a plurality of closure ratchets (400) having at least one closure ratchet engaging portion (410), at least one closure ratchet sloped portion (420), at least one closure ratchet depth (430) and at least two finish ratchet heights (240), a first finish ratchet height (240) having a first finish ratchet depth (230) causing it to be engageable with at least one closure ratchet (400), and a second finish ratchet height (240) having a second finish ratchet depth (230) allowing a free passage of all closure ratchets (400) above the imaginary superior closure thread border line (320) and arising in proximity to the imaginary superior closure thread border line (320) and extending upwards toward the imaginary inferior closure thread border line (330);

wherein

c. the thread passage gap (140) is sized to allow the free passage of at least one closure thread height (316), and

d. the application of the closure (300) to the finish (100) engages at least one closure ratchet (300) with at least one finish ratchet (200), thereby engaging the closure (300) and the finish (100) to prevent removal of the closure (300) from the finish (100).

20. A bottle finish and closure system (10) comprising:

a. a bottle finish (100) having a finish opening (O), a finish top (102), a finish bottom (104), a finish external surface (106), a finish T dimension (FT), and a finish E dimension (FE), complementary to a bottle closure (300), further comprising a finish thread (110) having at least one finish thread root (111), at least one first finish thread flank (112) having a first finish thread flank base (113), at least one second finish thread flank (114) having a second finish thread flank base (115), and at least one finish thread height (116), applied to at least an arc of a circumference of the finish external surface (106),

the finish thread (110) may have an imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) extending from the finish top (102) on the finish external surface (106), extending through a finish thread start (117), extending along the finish thread root (111) along the first finish thread flank base (113), through a finish thread termination (118), and continuously extending across any finish thread breaks (119) across the finish external surface (106) to the finish bottom (104);

and an imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130) extending from the finish top (102) on the finish external surface (106), extending through the finish thread start (117), extending along the finish thread root (111) along the second finish thread flank base (115) and through the finish thread termination (118), continuously extending across any finish thread breaks (119) across the finish external surface (106) to the finish bottom (104); and

a plurality of finish ratchets (200) having at least one finish ratchet engaging portion (210), at least one finish ratchet sloped portion (220), at least one finish ratchet depth (230), and at least one finish ratchet height (240), above the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) arising in proximity to the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) and wherein the at least one finish ratchet height (240) extends toward the finish opening (O) less than a distance between the imaginary superior finish thread border line (120) and the imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130), thus forming a thread passage gap (140) between the plurality of finish ratchets (200) and any portion of the imaginary inferior finish thread border line (130) falling above the finish ratchets (200),

b. a closure (300) having a closure opening (O), a closure top (302), a closure bottom (304), a closure internal surface (306), a closure T dimension (CT), and a closure E dimension (CE), complementary to a finish (100), further comprising,

a closure thread (310) having at least one closure root (311), at least one first closure thread flank (312) having a first closure thread flank base (313), at least one second closure thread flank (314) having a second closure thread flank base (315), and at least one closure thread height (316), applied to at least an arc of a circumference of the closure internal surface (306),

and the closure thread (310) has an imaginary superior closure thread border line (320) extending from the closure top (302) on the closure internal surface (306) extending through a closure thread start (317), extending along the closure thread root (311) through a closure thread termination (318) and continuously extending across any closure thread breaks (319) across the closure internal surface (306) to the closure bottom (304); and

an imaginary inferior closure thread border line (330) extending from the closure top (302) on the closure internal surface (306), extending through the closure thread start (317), extending along the closure thread root (311) along the second closure thread flank base (315), through the closure thread termination (318) and continuously extending across any closure thread breaks (319) across the closure internal surface (306) to the closure bottom (304); and

c. the thread passage gap (140) is sized to allow the free passage of at least one closure thread height (316), and

d. the application of the closure (300) to the finish (100) is bidirectionally engageable to reversible open and close the closure (300) and finish (100) system (10).