Containers and closures therefor

• US 6,041,953 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japeloco Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: Donald Terry Goodall
• Inventors: Goodall, Donald Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/035,075
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 215/44, 215/45, 215/235, 215/237, 215/253, 215/254, 215/318, 215/320, 215/354
• US Class Current: 215/354
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/0414 formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/185 with integral internal sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/3447 the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges

Abstract

A container and a removable closure, the container having an outlet with an inner and outer surface terminating at one end in a rim. The closure includes an end wall with an inner and outer skirt extending therefrom, the inner and outer skirts defining between them a slot which when the closure is applied to the container receives the container rim. The inner skirt includes a sealing section, and a deflecting section in the region of the free end of the inner skirt. The cross-sectional areas of the region and the cross-sectional area of the inner surface of the outlet being such that when the closure is applied to the container the deflecting section of the inner skirt engages the inner surface of the outlet to force the inner surface of the outlet adjacent the rim into sealing engagement with the sealing zone to seal the closure to the container.

Claims

1. A container and a removable closure therefor, which can be applied to the container in a sealing position, said container having an outlet with an inner and outer surface terminating at one end in a rim, said closure having an end wall with an inner and outer skirt extending therefrom, said inner and outer skirts defining between them a slot which when the closure is applied to the container and in the sealing position receives the container rim, the inner skit having a deflecting section in the region of the free end of the inner skirt, and a sealing section spaced from the deflecting section there being a space between the inner skirt and the outlet inner surface between the deflecting and sealing section, the cross-sectional areas of said deflecting section being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inner surface of the outlet such that when the closure is applied to said container the deflecting section of the inner skirt engages the inner surface of said outlet and causes a deflection thereof and the sealing section is caused to engage the inner surface and the rim into sealing engagement with said sealing zone to seal said closure to said container.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the container outlet is formed of PET or high density polypropylene.

3. A container and a removable closure therefor according claim 1 wherein primary lock means are provided on said container which co-operate with primary lock means on the closure to lock said closure to said container.

4. A container and a removable closure therefor as claimed in claim 3 wherein said primary lock means comprises a threaded section on the inner surface of the outer skirt of said closure which engages a corresponding threaded section on the outer surface of said container.

5. A container according to claim 4 wherein said end wall of said closure has an opening therein and a hinged cap section in the end wall adapted to be hingedly moved between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position it closes the opening in the end wall.

6. A container and a removable closure therefor as claimed in claim 5 wherein said primary lock means comprises a threaded section on the inner surface of the outer skirt of said closure which engages a corresponding threaded section on the outer surface of said container.

7. A container according to claim 5 wherein said inner skirt has slots generally vertically disposed.

8. A container and removable closure therefor according to claim 1 wherein said deflecting section comprises a projection on the outer surface of the inner skirt.

9. A container and removable closure therefor according to claim 8 including a tapered leading edge at the free end of the inner skirt.

10. A container and removable closure therefor according to claim 8 wherein said sealing section extends into said slot thereby defining a recessed zone between the sealing section and the deflecting section which effects a progressive release of the closure from the container to effect a controlled release of gas from the container.

11. A container and removable closure therefor according to claim 10 including a tapered leading edge at the free end of the inner skirt.

12. A container and a removable closure therefor, which can be applied to the container in a sealing position, said container having an outlet with an inner and outer surface terminating at one end in a rim, said outlet having two regions of different cross-sectional areas joined by an inclined surface with the cross-sectional area of said region adjacent the rim being greater than the cross-sectional area of said region inwardly of said inclined surface, said closure having an inner and outer skirt connected on upper end thereof with an annular disc connecting said inner skirt and thereby forming said closure, said inner and outer skirts defining between them a slot which when the closure is applied to the container and in a sealing position receives the container rim, the inner skirt having a deflecting section in the region of the free end of the inner skirt, and a sealing zone extending into said slot spaced from the deflecting section there being a space between the inner skirt and the outlet inner surface between the deflecting and sealing section, the cross-sectional areas of said deflecting section being the greater than the cross-sectional area of the inner surface of the outlet such that when the closure is applied to said container the deflecting section of the inner skirt engages the inner surface of said outlet and causes a deflection thereof and the sealing section is caused to engage the inner surface and the rim into sealing engagement with said sealing zone to seal said closure to said container.

13. A container according to claim 12 wherein the container outlet is formed of PET or high density polypropylene.

14. A container and a removable closure therefor as claimed in claim 12 wherein the inner skirt is stepped inwardly adjacent its bottom edge to form a shoulder which engages with said inclined surfaces when the closure is applied to the container to constitute a secondary sealing area which as the closure is removed from the container effects a progressive release of the closure from the container to effect a controlled release of gas from said container.

15. A container and a removable closure therefor as claimed in claim 14 wherein primary lock means are provided on said container which co-operate with primary lock means on the closure to lock said closure to said container.

16. A container and a removable closure therefor as claimed in claim 12 wherein secondary lock means are provided on said container which co-operate with secondary lock means on the closure to lock said closure to said container.

17. A container and a removable closure therefor as claimed in claim 16 wherein said secondary lock means comprises an inwardly directed flange on the outer skirt of said closure which engages a circumferential slot on the outer surface of said container to lock said closure to said container.

18. A container according to claim 12 wherein said end wall of said closure has an opening therein and a hinged cap section in the end wall adapted to be hingedly moved between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position it closes the opening in the end wall.

19. A container according to claim 18 wherein said inner skirt has slots generally vertically disposed.

20. A container and a removable closure therefor as claimed in claim 12 wherein primary lock means are provided on said container which co-operate with primary lock means on the closure to lock said closure to said container.

21. A container and a closure therefor as claimed in claim 20 wherein said primary lock means comprises a frusto-conical locking skirt which extends circumferentially about the outer skirt of said closure from a bottom edge thereof, said locking skirt being movable between an unlocked and locked position, in the unlocked position the locking skirt converges towards said outer skirt thereby permitting the closure to be applied to and removed from said container, in the locked position this locking skirt extends away from said outer skirt and a locking bead is generated at the junction of said conical skirt with said outer skirt which engages the outer surface of said container to lock the closure to said container.

22. A container and a closure therefor as claimed in claim 20 wherein the outer surface of said container is provided with a shoulder below said rim with a circumferential outwardly extending collar located below said shoulder said collar being provided with a circumferential inwardly slot having an upper limb and a lower limb, the upper limb being shorter than the lower limb, said locking means comprising a frusto-conical locking skirt extending circumferentially about the outer skirt of said closure from a bottom edge thereof, said locking skirt being movable between an unlocked and locked position, in the unlocked position the locking skirt converges towards said outer skirt thereby permitting the closure to be applied to and removed from said container, in the locked position this locking skirt extends away from said outer skirt and a locking bead is generated at the junction of said conical skirt with said outer skirt which on movement to a locking position seats below said shoulder to lock said closure to said container and tamper evident means on said locking skirt co-operating with said means on said container to indicate that the closure has been released from the container.

23. A container and closure therefor as claimed in claim 22 wherein said tamper evident means comprises a tamper evident band secured to said conical locking skirt by a fracture line which extends circumferentially about the locking skirt and includes a hinge portion, said tamper evident band having an inwardly directed protuberance which seats in said slot and finger tag on said frusto-conical skirt to facilitate the breaking of said tamper evident band from said frusto-conical skirt.

24. A container and a closure therefore as claimed in claim 20 wherein the outer surface of each side of the container is provided with two "V" shaped channels which are downwardly directed when the container is seated on its base, said "V" shape of channels being connected by a transverse section, a transverse channel on the outer surface of the container and positioned below said transverse section, the outer skirt of said closure having a tamper evident skirt secured thereto by a fracture line and lock means on the inner surface of said outer skirt and said tamper evident skirt adapted to lock with said transverse section and said transverse channel to lock the closure to said container, rotational movement of the closure relative to the container fracturing this fracture line and thereby permitting the closure to be removed from the container.

25. A container and a closure therefore as claimed in claim 24 wherein means are provided on the closure which co-operate with means on the container to permit the controlled release of gas from the container.

26. A container and a removable closure therefor as claimed in claim 20 wherein said primary lock means comprises a threaded section on the inner surface of the outer skirt of said closure which engages a corresponding threaded section on the outer surface of said container.

27. A container and a closure therefor as claimed in claim 26 wherein the outer skirt of said closure seats on a collar formed on the outer surface of said container.

28. A container and a closure therefor as claimed in claim 27 wherein a locking bead seat in a circumferential locking slot is formed in the outer surface of said container.